Carrie Symonds calls for global ban on 'wet markets' that sell live and dead wild animals after 200 charities linked coronavirus to China's wild meat craze
- Carrie Symonds signed a petition calling for an end to Chinese wet markets
- Prime Minister's pregnant fiancée had to self-isolate after contracting Covid-19
- 32-year-old wrote: 'This crisis gives us the chance to start doing things better'
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
Carrie Symonds today revealed she has signed a petition calling for an end to wet markets across the world.
The Prime Minister's pregnant fiancée, who was forced to self-isolate after contracting coronavirus, took to social media to share the 'End the Trade' petition.
The 32-year-old wrote: 'Have signed this petition calling for an end to the global wildlife trade once and for all. Please do consider doing the same.
'This crisis gives us the chance to start doing things better. Let this be one of those things.'

The Prime Minister's pregnant fiancee, who was forced to self-isolate after contracting coronavirus, took to social media to share the 'End the Trade' petition

The 32-year-old wrote: 'Have signed this petition calling for an end to the global wildlife trade once and for all. Please do consider doing the same'
Miss Symonds joins more than 22,000 people who have put their signatures to the petition.
Earlier this month, Miss Symonds, who is expecting their baby in early summer, revealed she had to separate from Boris Johnson after they both caught the virus
She later admitted there had been 'very dark' times as Boris battled coronavirus in hospital.
On April 12, the couple were pictured together in the back of a car heading for Chequers with their dog Dilyn.
Earlier this month, more than 200 wildlife groups worldwide issued a call in an open letter, urging countries to shut down wild animal markets such as the one in China where coronavirus is believed to have started.
In their letter to the World Health Organisation, they argued the move would stop future pandemics.

Miss Symonds joins more than 22,000 people who have put their signatures to the petition

Earlier this month, more than 200 wildlife groups worldwide issued a call in an open letter, urging countries to shut down wild animal markets such as the one in China where coronavirus is believed to have started
On another day in coronavirus news:
- Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves accused the Government of ignoring offers from British manufacturers to fill the gap.
- Dentists and anaesthetists became the latest groups to warn that they are working without adequate PPE.
- Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England, warned that the NHS's supply of face masks could be jeopardised if the Government begins advising the public to wear them, saying 'clear evidence' would be needed before advice was changed.
- The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Sage, which advises the Government, will reportedly consider the evidence at a meeting today.
- Manjeet Riyat, the first Sikh to work as an A&E consultant in the UK, was named among the latest healthcare workers to die after contracting Covid-19.
The evidence suggests Covid-19 has animal origins, most likely from bats, and may have come from a ‘wet market’ – where live and dead creatures are sold for eating – in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Other pandemics, including Sars and Ebola, have also been linked to viruses spreading from animals to people.

Dr Mark Jones, head of policy at Born Free, one of the charities involved, said: ‘Once Covid-19 is behind us, returning to business as usual cannot be an option.
‘We need to dig deep and reset our fundamental relationship with the natural world, rethink our place in it and treat our planet and all its inhabitants with a great deal more respect, for its sake and for ours.’
The letter also wants the WHO to raise the alarm about the risks posed to human health by the wildlife trade.
The charities back initiatives to find alternative sources of protein for people who survive by eating wild animals.
Dr Jones said markets selling live wild animals were found in many countries and had rapidly expanded.
The trade in wild animals is also a major factor in global declines in wildlife, he added. The letter was co-ordinated by Born Free and its Lion Coalition partners.
It has been backed by other groups including the Bat Conservation Trust and Zoological Society of London.
Last month, a survey by wildlife charity WWF in Hong Kong, Japan, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam found 93 per cent backed official action to eliminate illegal markets.
Miss Symonds, who is expecting their baby in early summer, felt ‘incredibly lucky’ as Mr Johnson was discharged from hospital.
The 32-year-old posted on Twitter: ‘I cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough. The staff at St Thomas’ Hospital have been incredible. I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you.’
She added: ‘There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones.’
Miss Symonds is understood to have written to Mr Johnson to boost his spirits, and sent a scan of their unborn baby.
The power behind the throne: How Carrie Symonds went from humble Tory press officer to Boris Johnson's incredibly influential First Lady, dubbed the 'Duchess of Downing Street'
By Danyal Hussain for MailOnline
Carrie Symonds' has made a remarkable rise from former Tory staffer to fully fledged First lady.
Ms Symonds, 31, worked for the Tory party from 2009, before hitting the headlines when her affair with Mr Johnson came to light.
That revelation, from September 2018, came during Mr Johnson's second marriage to Marina Wheeler, the mother of four of his children, causing it to break down.
During Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson's turbulent relationship, she has been credited with transforming his public image, with the PM swapping his previously unruly, slap-dash outfits to a noticeably more polished look, with neatly cropped hair and a significantly slimmer waistline.
Ms Symonds' image has also noticeably changed, her outfits and Instagram posts becoming more conservative as her relationship with Mr Johnson grew more serious.

Carrie Symonds' has made a remarkable rise from former Tory staffer to fully fledged First lady. The couple are pictured together here last October
But it's not all been plain sailing, with the couple having a well-publicised plate-smashing row recorded by neighbours who claimed she yelled 'get off me' and 'get out of my flat' while he stayed at her flat in Camberwell, south London last year.
Ms Symonds has been dubbed the 'Duchess of Downing Street', a reference to the similarity of her fashion to Kate Middleton, as well as a nod to her growing power behind the scenes at Number 10.
With the engagement and the news of a baby on the way, Ms Symonds could now have an even greater impact on policy than he she has already had.
A passionate conservationist, she had a direct impact on government policy after a badger cull in Derbyshire was called off, a move that saved thousands of the animals.
Badgers are culled across Europe over fears they are spreading bovine tuberculosis among cattle - but a licence for a cull across Derbyshire was refused after a 'direct intervention from the Prime Minister', according to the chief executive of the Badger Trust. It came after the government already granted licenses for thousands of badgers to be culled all over the country.
Ms Symonds has also hired a former ITN communications chief Sarah Vaughan-Brown, 45, as her personal adviser. Insiders say Ms Vaughan-Brown, who also handled PR for the Trinity Mirror newspaper group in the past, will be helping Ms Symonds with her growing charity interests.
Her association with Mr Johnson dates back to 2012, when Ms Symonds worked on the now-PM's successful second London mayoral campaign.
Ms Symonds has ties to several other Tory figures, campaigning for Zac Goldsmith during the General Election and she is also thought to be a friend of ex-Chancellor Sajid Javid.
She joined the Tory party media machine in 2009, first as a press adviser, then head of broadcast at Conservative campaign headquarters ahead of the 2015 general election, before becoming communications chief in 2017.
However, she was forced to quit just months after being accused of abusing her expenses to the tune of thousands of pounds.
Ms Symonds was asked to leave her £80,000-a-year after party chiefs said her performance was poor, having previously challenged her over taxi expenses.
Ms Symonds was the product of an affair between her father, Matthew, a founder of the Independent, and of newspaper lawyer Josephine McAfee while they were both were married to other people.
Her mother raised her in a three-bed townhouse in East Sheen, South West London, while her father provided financial assistance, though he is not thought to have played a big role in his life.
Ms Symonds was educated at the £20,000-a-year Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, west London, which counts Nigella Lawson as a former pupil.
She then went on to study theatre studies and history of art, graduating with a first from Warwick University.
Last year, pictures emerged of a scantily-clad Ms Symonds appearing in an occult-inspired play at university.
Her degree led her to consider a career as an actress, appearing in amateur shows and even trying for a part in Atonement, the 2007 film starring Keira Knightley.
After that proved unsuccessful, she turned her attention to politics, joining the Conservatives as a press officer.
This led to her working with Mr Goldsmith and on her future husband Mr Johnson's campaigns.
She also became a special adviser to John Whittingdale at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport before working for Sajid Javid.
In June 2017, at the age of 29, that she was made the Tory communications chief, before leaving her post, with her subsequent relationship with Mr Johnson elevating her publicly profile even higher.