A HIGH-PROFILE councillor has been diagnosed with coronavirus - causing a primary school to shut.

Cllr Tamoor Tariq, who is responsible for education across the borough in his cabinet role, was rushed to hospital last night following a council meeting.

St Luke’s CE Primary School, where Cllr Tariq has visited every day this week, has shut as a precaution.

The cabinet member for children and families said he became unconscious after losing all his energy and was taken to Fairfield General Hospital.

Following repeat blood tests doctors diagnosed him with coronavirus and asked him to self-isolate once he returned home at 9am this morning.

He said: “I’ve thought long and hard whether to share this publicly. But as a public servant I feel it’s my duty to do so.

“Last night I was rushed to Fairfield Hospital with coronavirus symptoms. My body deteriorated quickly and I became unconscious.

“If I’ve been in physical contact with you this week please follow government guidelines to self-isolate.

“It genuinely happened within minutes last night.”

The staff at St Lukes’s Primary who were in contact which Cllr Tariq while he lead the coronavirus crisis response this week are self-isolating.

But he said he had limited contact with staff at the school in Morley Street.

Cllr Tariq, who is the first deputy leader of the council, took to social media this afternoon to urge people to take the coronavirus crisis seriously.

He said: “Given my current state of health with coronavirus, I would urge everyone please take it seriously. I’m not in the traditional vulnerable category, but I deteriorated within minutes. My sincere thanks to paramedics and staff at Fairfield who acted promptly to treat me.

“This disease and virus is amongst us, I’m urging people of all age categories to take this seriously. Limit your contact with individuals, stop going out unnecessarily. We have to stop living life normally, as these are extraordinary times.

“Family and friends told me to slow down this week, but in all honesty I didn’t listen, and last night I certainly paid the price. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through such a painful ordeal.

“I will be self-isolating and hoping to fight off the disease. If it wasn’t for the prompt response of our medical professionals I dread to think what could have happened.”

The incident occured following a meeting of full council last night which Cllr Tariq attended alongside 12 other elected members, including the leader and the Mayor of Bury, as well as senior staff.