Scott Morrison cancels event as he tests POSITIVE to Covid after experiencing flu-like symptoms 

Scott Morrison has tested positive to Covid-19 after initially testing negative on a rapid antigen test. 

The Prime Minister had cancelled an event in Sydney on Tuesday night after falling ill just hours after he tested negative on the self-administered RAT. 

He had a noticeable and persistent cough during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Just after 7.30pm, Mr Morrison’s office told journalists he would not be attending a planned event in Sydney to light up the Opera House with Ukraine’s colours.

The event was planned to start at 8pm and the NSW government was advised he could not attend at ‘very’ late notice.

The Prime Minister’s office said he was ‘no longer available’ to attend but did not specify illness as the reason for his decision to cancel his appearance.

At 11.24pm Mr Morrison’s office issued a statement confirming that the Prime Minister has tested positive for Covid-19.

The statement was a direct communication from Mr Morrison, saying he had tested positive to Covid-19 and is ‘experiencing flu-like symptoms’. 

It went on to say he ‘will be recovering over the next week’.

Mr Morrison said he had tested himself daily since Sunday, including on Tuesday morning, ‘with all tests returning a negative result’.

‘I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening,’ he said. 

Mr Morrison said he is isolating at home in Sydney and following health guidelines.

His wife Jenny and their two daughters have tested negative but will also isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also contracted Covid-19, while on a visit to Washington DC, late last year.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton also tested positive to Covid early in the pandemic. 

Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer, who is running for the Senate in Queensland on the United Australia Party ticket, tested positive to Covid and pneumonia last week. 

Mr Palmer is unvaccinated and an outspoken opponent of Covid-19 vaccinations.  

The Prime Minister said he will continue to carry out his responsibilities while in isolation, ‘including virtually chairing meetings of the National Security and Expenditure Review Committees of Cabinet’.

He said he would also be focusing on the ’emergency response to the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales and ensuring we stand with each and every one of the affected communities both now and as the waters eventually recede’.

Mr Morrison also referred to ‘our urgent response to the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine and Russia’s senseless aggression’.

He said he would be staying in regular contact with Australia’s ‘security and intelligence officials and our international partners, as well as working with the Treasurer to finalise the Budget’. 

Mr Morrison had been expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky on Tuesday night, but it is not known if this phone call went ahead, given Mr Morrison’s sudden illness. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister’s office with a number of questions about the situation.  

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Morrison called Russia ‘a pariah state’ as he announced a $103million package from Australia, $50million of which will be in the form of ‘lethal’ missiles and ammunition.    

A further $25 million will go to international organisations to support their efforts with shelter, food, medical care, water and education support.

‘This will be our opening contribution. We expect over time there will be further requests and we will be addressing those as time goes on,’ he said.

‘We’re talking missiles, ammunition, we are talking about supporting them in their defence of their homeland. The overwhelming majority of that will be in the lethal category.’ 

Is was also announced on Tuesday that Australia will take in thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have escaped their homeland after Russia invaded.

Mr Morrison said he is working on a temporary protection scheme similar to the one deployed during the Kosovo War.

In April 1999, Australia created ‘safe haven’ visas for about 4,000 Kosovars. Nearly all of them stayed for less than a year and returned home when the war ended. 

‘We should not make the mistake thinking that every person who is seeking to leave Ukraine does not want to return to their home country,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘I have no doubt hundreds of thousands, if not more, will want to return to their home country. 

‘That’s where their family is, that’s where their lives are and we want to ensure that those things are not taken from them.’

Mr Morrison said more than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their country and 160,000 more are on the move. 

Alongside the temporary protection programme, Australia will also offer permanent humanitarian visas to some Ukrainians.

But Mr Morrison said the number of places available will be worked out later because the demand ‘is not very clear’ at the moment.

‘We will address that in partnership with other agencies when we get to that point. And if that requires supplementing our existing program, just like with the Afghanistan program we’re currently working on, then we will,’ he said.