Boris Johnson’s personal photographer goes down with coronavirus and may have spread it in new NHS Nightingale hospital

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BORIS Johnson’s personal photographer has gone down with coronavirus – and may have spread it around the new NHS Nightingale.

Andrew Parsons was taking pictures of the Prime Minister before he self-isolated last week before going to the east London hospital to take snaps for No.10 – before coming down with the virus earlier this week.

Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus last week, with his personal photographer now feared to have gone down with with the virus
Andrew Parsons is understood to have developed Covid-19 mild symptoms and is self-isolating at home

Instead of self-isolating – as the government advice suggests – the photographer was in close contact with members of staff last Saturday taking up close and personal shots of civil service staff at the Downing Street Covid-19 meeting – chaired by the PM through a video call.

He later took snaps inside the new NHS Nightingale hospital alongside dozens of squaddies helping build the new facility inside the Excel conference centre in East London.

A source said: “After Boris was diagnosed instead of self isolating he went over to the new hospital at Excel to do pictures.

“Instead of doing the sensible thing he has potentially passed it on to all the squaddies working over there, as well as a number of civil servants and officials he’s been in touch with.

“He was last close to the PM after the hand clap pics in Downing Street last Thursday – and was stood next to other photographers film crews – potentially giving it to them too.”

Another source added: “There are quite a few people in No.10 who have got it now.”

Mr Parsons is constantly at the Prime Minister’s side at events, functions and documents hiss day to day meetings in Downing Street.

It’s understood he has mild symptoms and is recovering at home.

He was hired earlier this year as a Special Adviser – where pay starts from £40,500 and rises to £145,000.

The job is his second spell as an official photographer to the prime minister after he was first hired by David Cameron.

Downing Street declined to comment.

Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock (left) and England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (right) on the stairs of No10 Downing Street, after a coronavirus press conference on March 12