MPs demanded Parliament shuts its doors to its 20,000 daily visitors after a dozen went into isolation.
They say the number passing through is accelerating the spread of the virus, endangering ministers, MPs and staff.
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MPs demanded Parliament closes its doors to its 20,000 daily visitors after a dozen went into isolation
A security official said they had let in tourists with Italian passports onto the Parliamentary estate as recently as this week.
A Labour source said barring visitors from entering Parliament would avoid having to shut the Palace being shut down altogether.
MPs are keen to avoid Parliament being closed completely because it would look like they are being given special treatment, the source said.
And MPs fear that closing down Parliament altogether would send a signal to the rest of the country.
The Labour insider said: “Once this place shuts down, the whole country closes down. So MPs just want it closed to visitors.”
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, one of the MPs who is self-isolating, said Parliament should have been shut down two weeks ago.
“I said two weeks ago we should have closed parliament to visitors.
“Parliament is like an airport – we have got people coming in from all over the world.
“Security have said to me that they have to pat people down from all around the world. We should have stopped visitors coming here two weeks ago. It would only need to be temporary.”
A security official told HOAR: “20,000 tourists come through ever day. They should stop people coming in – they come from all over the world. I saw someone with an Italian passport come in the other day.”
Meanwhile several more MPs revealed they were self-isolating after fears they have come into contact with someone with coronavirus.
Security Minister James Brokenshire is staying home after attending a spy summit with an Australian MP who has since been tested positive.
Fellow Tory MP Dehenna Davison and Labour MP Olivia Blake are also staying at home over the virus fears.
It takes the total number of known MPs self-isolating to a dozen.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen is self-isolating and said Parliament should have been shut down two weeks ago
Security Minister James Brokenshire is staying home after attending a spy summit with an Australian MP who has since been tested positive
Tory MP Dehenna Davison is also staying at home over the virus fears
Labour MP Olivia Blake is in self-isolation over coronavirus fears
Health minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus
