Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had been checked by his doctor on Tuesday night but would not be tested for the coronavirus, despite three federal parliamentarians including a Cabinet minister now diagnosed.
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"I got a good tick last night from the doc. I appreciate that. But I intend to see him regularly in the weeks ahead," Mr Morrison said on Wednesday.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has the virus, and a Liberal Party donor whom he met at a fundraiser on March 10 is also reportedly positive.
The case exacerbates concerns about a Cabinet meeting Mr Dutton attended on March 10, despite authorities insisting that Mr Dutton was not infectious until March 11, 24 hours before he starting showing symptoms.
Mr Morrison said he had a medical check-up on Tuesday night and would continue to get regular checks. But he would only be tested for coronavirus if his doctor advised him to.
"There can't be one rule for me and another rule for the rest of the country. Testing equipment is an important resource, " he said.
A number of Cabinet members had been tested, but not in relation to the fundraising event, he said. Cabinet is no longer meeting in one room, but is meeting virtually.
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Mr Dutton was the first of three federal parliamentarians to test positive for the virus, with suspicions he was infected on a flight to the United States on March 4, or while in the US, where he met Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and other senior officials in the Trump circle.
The others are Nationals Senator Susan McDonald, who is a Queenslander like Mr Dutton, and NSW Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg.
Senator Bragg said he contracted the virus after attending a wedding with known cases on March 6. He was diagnosed on Tuesday, March 17, and in the interim has attended hearings and events since. He could not be reached to clarify his movements or likely infectious period.
Details are still being finalised for parliament next week, but Mr Morrison said 60 MPs would not attend the lower house - 30 from each of the two major parties, and 22 Senators would stay away.
Only required ministers, members and senators would attend Question Time, and only urgent legislation, including the stimulus package, would be considered, then parliament would adjourn. Decisions are yet to be made about the May 12 budget, the busiest day of the parliamentary year, which usually means the "lock-up" of hundreds of media, public servants and peak groups.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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