British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves intensive care, on his feet
UK PM Boris Johnson is back on his feet after leaving intensive care, as his pregnant fiancee’s emotional encouragement to help him beat the deadly COVID-19 virus was revealed.
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Boris Johnson is back on his feet after a remarkable recovery from COVID-19 that put him in intensive care for three days.
Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds sent him a baby scan and a letter for each day he was in hospital to lift his spirits and keep him fighting.
The British Prime Minister was able to walk around the ward at St Thomas’ Hospital in London early Saturday Australian time.
However Downing Street said Mr Johnson’s improvement was still in the early stages.
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His improvement was described as putting the “good” into Good Friday in some British newspapers, as Britain continues to battle the coronavirus, with his highest daily death toll of 980 posted.
Ms Symonds, 32, was desperate that the British Prime Minister be there for the birth of their child, which is due in two months.
The British Prime Minister was up walking on his ward in St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Saturday Australian time.
But earlier in the week he gave Ms Symonds a scare when he was put into intensive care with coronavirus.
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The couple have not seen each other in a month, and it’s not clear when they will be able to reunite given strict social distancing rules in place in the UK.
“It’s been a very, very worrying time for Carrie,” a source told The Sun newspaper.
“She has been urging Boris to get well for their unborn child.”
Mr Johnson, 55, was unlikely to be back at work for several weeks, just as the UK needs to make a key decision about whether to extend its lockdown.
Instead of emergency meetings via Zoom, Mr Johnson has been ordered to rest.
An iPad has been loaded up with his favourite movies including The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And for a laugh, his minders have also loaded up Groundhog Day and Home Alone.
He’s also watched famous British film Love Actually, which he based a spoof election campaign video from last year, for the first time.
“It’s a good time to fill in some of his cultural gaps,” the source told The Sun.
“It might seem odd but he has never seen Home Alone. He prefers Greek poetry, doesn’t he?,” referring to his Eton and Oxford education.
It was expected that he would still be on oxygen as he recovered in hospital.
“The Prime Minister has been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
“He has spoken to his doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care he has received.
“His thoughts are with those affected by this terrible disease.”
There were another record 980 deaths in England in a day, bringing the total to 8,958, with the peak of infection in the UK expected on Easter Sunday.
Of the latest cases, 56 patients did not have pre-existing conditions.
The lockdown in the UK was likely to remain in place until May, although there were reports that schools may be one of the first places to reopen.
The UK has had an unusual start to the Easter weekend.
The Church of England had banned its clergy from entering churches, with no Good Friday services for the first time since 1213.
The Pope had put an interdict on English clergy, a ban on celebrating mass, that year.
In France, the Notre Dame Cathedral held one of the few services it has conducted since a fire tore through it in April last year.
A Crown of Thorns which was saved from the fire was used in the mass.
In Jerusalem, pilgrims were banned from following the way of the cross through the Old City.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, was closed to the public but some prayers were said there. It was the first time in a century that the church had been closed at Easter.
In Rome, the traditional Way of the Cross around the Colosseum was cancelled.
Pope Francis conducted ceremonies in front of a handful of people inside St Peter’s Basilica, which was normally attended by 10,000 people.
And as the world fights COVID-19, the World Health Organisation warned there was a new threat in Africa.
Ebola had resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, tweeted: “Unfortunately, this means the government of #DRC will not be able to declare an end to the #Ebola outbreak on Monday, as hoped.
“But @WHO remains on the ground and committed as ever to working with the government, affected communities and our partners to end the outbreak.”
JOHNSON WAS ‘WORKING TOO HARD’ BEFORE HEALTH CRISIS
Colleagues of the British PM said Mr Johnson’s determination to continue working may have compromised his health, according to friends and colleagues.
“Boris has worked non-stop throughout his illness — and now we see the result,” Sarah Vine, the wife of Michael Gove, said on Twitter.
James Duddridge, MP, said: “Take care boss. Get well. Come back fighting. But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift.”
Another cabinet minister, who did not wish to be named, told the London Financial Times: “This may be the jolt, the wake-up call that he realises he has to rest to recover.
“He will have been very reluctant to go to hospital.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: “My thoughts tonight are with @BorisJohnson and @carriesymonds. I know he’ll be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger.”
There has been a scramble to get as many as 30,000 ventilators built to avoid a catastrophic shortage at UK hospitals.
A new 4000-bed hospital was opened in East London this week, with four more similar Nightingale hospitals to be set up around the UK.
Britain remains in lockdown for the second week, with a decision on whether any changes to make to the restrictions due next Monday.
St Thomas’ Hospital is across the Thames from Westminster, where under normal circumstances Mr Johnson would be working.
The public hospital is part of the UK’s National Health Service, which Britain has been hugely proud of and eternally grateful for during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Johnson, 55, was a keen cyclist before he became Prime Minister but has been unable to exercise on two wheels as often because of his role and security issues.
Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020
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.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020
Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
He gave up drinking during last year’s election campaign and had lost some weight.
Mr Johnson does not smoke but did say to local London paper the Islington Gazette that he lit a cigar when one of his five children were born.
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The Prime Minister’s fiancee Carrie Symonds, 32, is pregnant with her first child and the pair was due to marry before the coronavirus hit.
Ms Symonds has recovered but Mr Johnson’s symptoms, including a fever and persistent cough, had continued despite seven days of isolation.
He had been in contact with members of the government, but has not been seen since he posted a video of himself looking rather unwell, pleading with people to stay home at the weekend.
WORLD REACTS TO JOHNSON’S HEALTH SCARE
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent a message of support to Mr Johnson.
“Get well soon @BorisJohnson. Thinking of you, your family and all our UK friends at this tough time,” he said this morning.
World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye said: “I am thinking of my friend @BorisJohnson tonight, and sending my and @WHO’s heartfelt good wishes as he battles the #coronavirus. I know the @NHSuk and its dedicated #health workers will be looking after you. “
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the People of Israel pray for the speedy and full recovery of our friend British Prime Minister @BorisJohnson.”
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “All my support to Boris Johnson, to his family and the British people at this difficult time. I hope he overcomes this ordeal quickly.”
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who also suffered a COVID-19 scare, said: “Sending my best wishes to Prime Minister @BorisJohnson for a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with you and your family right now. Hope to see you back at Number 10 soon.”
US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” about Mr Johnson’s “scary” condition and had offered the help of “brilliant” American companies in his treatment.
He said US medicos with experimental treatments were already consulting with Mr Johnson’s doctors in London.
“I’ve asked two of the leading companies – these are brilliant companies – Ebola, AIDS, others, they’ve come with the solutions and just have done incredible jobs – and I’ve asked them to contact London immediately,” Mr Trump said.
“They have offices in London, major companies – more than major, more than size, they’re genius. And I had a talk with four of them today and they speak a language that most people don’t even understand. But I understand something: that they’ve really advanced therapeutics, and therapeutically, and they have arrived in London already.
“Their London office has whatever they need and we’ll see if we can be of help. We’ve contacted all of Boris’ doctors.”
When asked for further detail, he said: “It’s a very complex treatment of things that they’ve just recently developed.”
“They’ve already had meetings with the doctors, and we’ll see whether or not they want to go that route,” he said.
“They’re at the hospital, and they have everything with them should it be needed.”
Mr Trump also defended Mr Johnson’s initial reaction to coronavirus, in which he had continued shaking hands with members of the public and delayed imposing lockdowns.
“I think Boris was looking at it differently, he was looking at it, earlier, he was looking at it like, ride it out,” Mr Trump said.
“He waited a little while.”
He described his condition as “scary”.
“You know what that means, intensive care’s a big deal with regard to what we are talking about,” Mr Trump said at his daily White House briefing.
“That’s a very big deal, that’s a scary deal.”
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said on Twitter: “Praying for the Prime Minister’s swift recovery tonight. @GSTTNHS has some of the finest medical staff in the world, and he couldn’t be in safer hands.”
Former British PM Theresa May also sent her best wishes.
“My thoughts and prayers are with @BorisJohnson and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital. This horrific virus does not discriminate. Anyone can get it. Anyone can spread it. Please #StayHomeSaveLives”
Originally published as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves intensive care, on his feet