U.K. PM Boris Johnson ‘in good spirits,’ remains in hospital
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a comfortable night in hospital, is in good spirits and continues to carry out work as leader of the government but will remain in hospital under observation, his spokesperson said on Monday.
«The Prime Minister had a comfortable night in Thomas’s Hospital in London, and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation,» the spokesperson told reporters.
Johnson, 55, thanked «the brilliant [National Health Service] staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time.»
Johnson was admitted to hospital Sunday for tests in what Downing Street said was a «precautionary step» because he was showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus.
I’d like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. <br><br>Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
—@BorisJohnson
The prime minister, his office and some of his ministers said Monday that Johnson continued to run the government.
«He’ll stay in hospital as long as he needs to do that, but I’ve heard that he’s doing well and I very much look forward to him being back in Number 10 as soon as possible,» Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said.
«This isn’t an emergency admission and so I certainly expect that he’ll be back at Number 10 shortly,» he said, though he gave no timeframe.
Johnson’s pregnant 32-year-old fiancée, Carrie Symonds, also had symptoms but said on Saturday she was feeling better.
With only an unwieldy collection of sometimes ancient and contradictory precedents to go by, there is no formal succession plan should the prime minister become incapacitated.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, 46, chaired the government’s emergency COVID-19 meeting on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Johnson was a «strong man» as he passed on his nation’s best wishes.
«All Americans are praying for him,» Trump said Sunday. «I’m hopeful and sure that he’s going to be fine.»
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Doctors said a person of Johnson’s age with COVID-19 symptoms after 10 days was likely to be assessed for their oxygen levels, lung, liver and kidney functions, and undergo an electrocardiogram heart check.
«Clearly the prime minister is finding it difficult to shake this thing off,» said Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at Nottingham University.
«What it does show is how difficult it is to predict how this infection will develop, and whilst most people will experience nothing more than an annoying cold, for others this can develop into a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease.»
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Medics said that patients with COVID-19 can deteriorate after about 10 days, with some developing pneumonia. National Health Service guidelines advise those who are self-isolating not go to hospital unless they develop new symptoms or become sufficiently unwell.
In terms of Britain’s fight in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, the prime minister’s office said Britain now has 10,000 ventilators in its healthcare system, confirming the number had increased after deliveries from suppliers.
Health officials said on Sunday the British death toll from the coronavirus had risen by 621 to 4,934.
