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Buckingham Palace confirmed on Feb. 20 that Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The news sent shock waves throughout the U.K. as members of the public, and government officials offered well wishes to the queen and expressed their concerns via social media.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the start of the Platinum Jubilee, just weeks before testing positive for COVID-19
Queen Elizabeth II | Joe Giddens – by WPA Pool/Getty Images

Buckingham Palace confirms Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19

According to an official statement from Buckingham Palace, as seen below, the queen is “experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms” after testing positive for COVID-19. Her diagnosis has come just days after Prince Charles and Camila Parker Bowles tested positive. Queen Elizabeth II met with Charles on Feb. 8, two days before he tested positive, according to People.

The queen is expected to “continue light duties at Windsor in the coming days.” Meanwhile, she will receive medical attention and follow COVID-19 guidelines, as Buckingham Palace’s statement read.

It seems the queen has already carried on with her duties. She issued a congratulatory message to Team GB Men’s and Women’s Curling teams just hours after news broke of her positive test.

“I send my warmest congratulations to the Team GB women’s curling team on your outstanding performance in winning the gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, following the silver medal achieved by the men’s curling team yesterday,” her statement read. “I know that your local communities and people throughout the United Kingdom will join me in sending our good wishes to you, your coaches, and the friends and family who have supported you in your great success.”

Politicians and members of the public have offered well wishes

Many government officials and members of the public have already sent well wishes to the queen. For example, Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Britain, took to Twitter to wish her a speedy recovery.

“I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan commended the queen’s commitment to her country before wishing her a speedy recovery.

“The commitment Her Majesty the Queen has shown to our country continues to be unwavering. Wishing her a swift and safe recovery from COVID-19,” he wrote.

As The New York Times reported, citizens of London have also commented on the queen’s health update and COVID-19 as a whole.

“She must be the most protected high-profile person, and she’s elderly,” said Gail Smith in North London. “And she is generally quite a healthy person, but it shows how difficult it is to protect people from this.”

Queen Elizabeth II’s positive test comes just before a change in the U.K.’s pandemic restrictions

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The news has also led to a larger discussion about COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K. Johnson had been set to roll back England’s pandemic restrictions on Monday, Feb. 21. However, many people now wonder if the queen’s positive test will have an impact on that plan. Johnson has not yet announced any updates.

Prior to the queen’s diagnosis, Johnson released a statement about Britain’s plan for “living” with the virus thanks to vaccination programs.

“Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” he wrote on Twitter.

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