Australia's home minister tests positive for coronavirus

ANKARA

Australia's Home Minister Peter Dutton said on Friday that he tested positive for coronavirus.

In a tweet, Dutton said that he woke up to a sore throat with temperature.

"I immediately contacted Queensland Department of Health and was subsequently tested for COVID-19. I was advised by Queensland Health this afternoon that the test had returned positive," Dutton wrote.

He joined just over 200 cases of coronavirus across Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today announced a ban on mass gatherings in the country to stem the spread of the virus.

Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, this week was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

The global death toll is now over 4,900, with more than 134,000 confirmed cases, according to WHO.