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Boris Johnson back on hospital ward as Britain prepares for Easter lockdown
LONDON, April 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson was “in very good spirits” on Friday after ending three days
of intensive care treatment for COVID-19, his spokesman said, as his
government urged people to remain in lockdown over Easter.
The 55-year-old leader left intensive care at London’s St Thomas’
Hospital on Thursday evening and will now be monitored closely, his
official spokesman told reporters at a daily briefing.
“The prime minister is back on a ward and continuing his recovery,
which is at an early stage. He continues to be in very good spirits,”
he said.
“He was waving his thanks to all the nurses and doctors that he saw
as he was being moved from the intensive care unit back to the ward.”
Johnson’s improving condition came as the government continues to
impose an unprecedented nationwide lockdown to try to stem the spread
of the deadly coronavirus.
It announced another 881 deaths on Thursday, taking the UK total to
7,978, with more than 65,000 cases so far confirmed.
That is thought to reflect only a fraction of the actual number of
people infected because not everyone has been tested for the virus.
Despite the grim tolls, there were indications the stringent social
distancing regime introduced on March 23 could be starting to have a
positive impact.
“We are beginning to see the benefits of this social distancing,”
said Stephen Powis, medical director of England’s state-run National
Health Service (NHS).
“We do believe the virus is spreading less,” he told the BBC.
But Powis stressed it was “critical” that people keep obeying the
social distancing measures over the long Easter weekend, when fine
weather in forecast.
“It’s still too early to really be confident that we are turning the
corner,” he added.
“We need to completely and utterly make sure that we all comply with
the instructions we have been given.”
– ‘Period of readjustment’ –
Johnson is the most high-profile world leader to suffer from the
coronavirus.
He was hospitalised Sunday over concerns he still had a cough and
high temperature after spending 10 days in self-isolation in a flat
above his Downing Street office.
While in intensive care the Conservative leader received “standard
oxygen treatment” and did not require a ventilator.
But his transfer there Monday, unprecedented for a prime minister
during a national emergency in modern times, rattled Britain and sent
shockwaves around the world.
US President Donald Trump called Johnson’s release from intensive
care “a very positive development”.
His father Stanley Johnson said on Saturday he must now “rest up”,
after last week trying to keep working during his self-isolation.
“He has to take time,” the elder Johnson told BBC radio.
“I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back
to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of
readjustment.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been deputising for Johnson in
his absence.
He led an emergency meeting of senior ministers on Friday, which
discussed a formal review of the lockdown measures set for next week.
Implemented for an initial three weeks, the measures are widely
expected to remain in place until at least the end of the month.
However, fears are growing about the indirect impact of an even more
prolonged lockdown on people’s health and finances.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has reportedly stressed in the
government’s daily coronavirus response meetings that an economic
downturn will have a broad impact.
There could be less taxpayer funds for the state-run health service,
and people may not be able to access regular treatments or
vaccinations. Increased risk of domestic violence and depression was
also cited.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2152hrs