Dutton denies having virus during White House meeting

Australian Homes Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said on Saturday that he was not contagious with the new coronavirus during a recent visit to the White House. He added that his government had contacted officials in Washington to inform them.

Speaking to Sydney's 2GB radio in a telephone interview from a Brisbane hospital, Dutton said he had been told that he only become contagious three days after his return from the United States on Sunday.

He said he started showing "fairly mild" symptoms on Friday morning and tested positive later that day.

During his visit Dutton met with President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and US Attorney General William Barr.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.