Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi has gone into hospital two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Bolton South East MP announced she was being treated for pneumonia in a message on her Facebook page.
The town in Greater Manchester has been one of the UK’s worst coronavirus hotspots in recent weeks, with cases rising sharply to 384 per 100,000 last week.
It is currently under tier 2 “high alert” restrictions, amid a stand-off as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham demands more financial support in return for agreeing to the government pushing the area up to the toughest Tier three “very high alert” level.
Ms Qureshi, 57, who is a shadow international development minister on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour frontbench, said: “Two weeks ago, I began to feel unwell. I then tested positive for Covid-19, so my family and I immediately self-isolated at home.
“I have not travelled to Westminster or anywhere else.
“I continued to work as best I could remotely, attending virtual meetings and doing casework, but after 10 days I began to feel much worse and on Saturday I was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia.
“I’m being very well looked after and have nothing but praise and admiration for the wonderful staff at the hospital. They have been amazing throughout the process and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone working here in such difficult circumstances.“
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the tissue in one or both lungs, causing coughing, breathlessness, chest pains and high temperatures, which can be most serious for elderly patients. It usually results from a bacterial infection, but official NHS advice states that it can also be caused by coronavirus.
Starmer sent his best wishes via Twitter: “My thoughts are with my friend @YasminQureshiMP who has been admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
“My thanks go to the staff caring for Yasmin at the Royal Bolton Hospital, along with NHS staff across the country who are on the frontline against Covid-19.”
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner also sent “all my best wishes to friend and colleague Yasmin Qureshi”.
Ms Qureshi last spoke in the House of Commons via video link from her home on 29 September.
