British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Yahoo Finance’s Tom Belger joins the On The Move panel to break down the latest news from the United Kingdom amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Video Transcript

ADAM SHAPIRO: But we want to head across the Atlantic Ocean, because one of the world's leaders has now tested positive for coronavirus. And Tom Belger is joining us from London with more on that. Tom?

TOM BELGER: Yeah. People often say they never thought things would happen to them. Certainly, never crossed my mind that the coronavirus would hit the UK's own prime minister. But Boris Johnson is now in self-isolation today after he tested positive. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also confirmed today to have tested positive. Lawmakers sending their best wishes from across party lines, but some also very concerned about the sheer number of MPs now presenting with symptoms. And some say Parliament should have begun social distancing measures sooner.

For anyone wondering about the queen, luckily her last contact with Johnson was by phone. Palace officials say she's in good health. The government-- it's worth saying-- is carrying on effectively as normal. Johnson said because his symptoms are mild, he will lead while in isolation in Downing Street. And one of the main things on their in-tray this week is an unprecedented package of support for the self-employed, which they rolled out earlier this week.

The government promised last week to pay the wages of those who are employed who would otherwise be laid off, but they've been under huge pressure to do something for Britain's army of 5 million self-employed workers, some of whom face months without work. They've just done that now with a very, very generous scheme. It's paying 80% of self-employed workers' wages over the past three years. Concerns about whether it will certainly reach people quick enough, but it's another stimulus measure on top of enormous loans, subsidies, grants, wage support already announced.

It hasn't done much to calm the stock market, though, in London. You can see the FTSE was down more than 3% earlier today. The markets across Europe as well, also struggling. Germany, France down, and that's off the back of rising US cases, it seems, and a nervousness, really, about what might happen over the weekend. Adam.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Tom, thank--