PROFESSOR Neil Fergusson from Imperial College London has said there is "a lot of COVID-19" at Westminster after developing symptoms of the coronavirus.

Fergusson, one of the lead authors on a paper which predicted around 250,000 people could die if the UK did not switch tactics, tweeted that he had developed a high fever and cough and has began self-isolating.

Labour MP Kate Osborne and Tory MP Nadine Dorries have both tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days, with staff members in the parliament also falling ill.

Osbourne said "I will continue to self isolate until I have fought off the illness" and urged others to follow NHS advice by self-isolating if they have symptoms.

There are almost 2000 confirmed cases of the virus in the UK so far.