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Coronavirus world live updates: Boris Johnson admitted to ICU

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street says.

Victoria Craw and Megan Palin
less than 2 min read
April 6, 2020 - 8:02PM
Boris Johnson admitted to hospital days after he claimed to be “feeling better”

British PM Boris Johnson is in intensive care after being admitted to hospital with the coronavirus.

 

It comes as the US and UK brace for one of the darkest weeks in living memory as the coronavirus pandemic is set to escalate in both countries.The US Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned it could be a "Pearl Harbour moment, our 9/11 moment" for a new generation in America. 

MORE: Follow the latest coronavirus news

Nearly 10,000 people have died of the virus in the US, with New York the epicentre of the disease. Globally, there have been more than 1.2 million cases recorded and nearly 70,000 people have died so far. 

Follow our live rolling coverage below. 

Live Updates

British PM in intensive care

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in intensive care as he battles the coronavirus.

Mr Johnson was moved to the ICU at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London “on the advice of his medical team” after being admitted to the facility the day prior.

A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street said the decision was made when Mr Johnson's condition worsened Monday afternoon, 11 days after he tested positive for the disease

"Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital," the statement read.

He is not yet on a ventilator and is still conscious, according to his spokesperson.

"The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary," the statement continued.

"The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication."

According to the statement, Mr Johnson was “in good spirits” and had a “comfortable night”.

The spokesperson would not comment on reports Mr Johnson was given oxygen, but officials are no longer describing his symptoms as mild. Earlier, the 10 Downing St spokesperson said in a statement that the leader had been admitted to hospital as a "precautionary step" because he had "persistent symptoms".

Communications secretary, Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Today program on Monday morning – before the prime minister was moved to ICU – that Mr Johnson was able to continue running the country despite being in hospital.

"I know for him personally it will be very frustrating that he's had to go to the hospital to have these tests, and he'll want to be back in Number 10 (Downing Street) leading from the front, which is his way," Mr Jenrick said.

"This wasn't an emergency admission, it was a planned admission, in order to have some routine tests.

"Those tests are underway and 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."

In a news conference Sunday night, US President Donald Trump said: "I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus".

"All Americans are praying for him. He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader," he said.

Italian deaths near 16,000

Italy has recorded nearly 16,000 deaths from coronavirus with nearly 130,000 infections.

On Monday the region of Tuscany began distributing face mask for 3.7 million residents. They will be required to be worn in public.

Volunteers are working around-the-clock to distribute three masks each to every resident.

Once local authorities confirm everyone has received their share, the Tuscany governor’s order to wear them in public will go into effect as part of restrictions aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Lombardy is Italy’s most afflicted region and made a similar mandatory mask- wearing order last week. Tuscany has nearly 6,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.

– With wires

JK Rowling shares breathing video

Harry Potter author JK Rowling said she is “fully recovered” after suffering “all symptoms” of coronavirus and has shared a breathing technique online.

The author said she had not been tested for the disease but shared a video of a doctor from Queens Hospital explaining how to "relieve respiratory symptoms,” she wrote on Twitter.

“For last 2 weeks I’ve had all symptoms of C19 (tho haven’t been tested) & did this on doc husband’s advice. I’m fully recovered & technique helped a lot.”

The video shows a doctor taking deep breaths, holding it and then coughing, before lying flat on the stomach to allow air into the lungs.

He says: “While you have an active infection you need to get a good amount of air into the bases of your lungs and the only way you are going to do that is by having a technique.

“I want you guys to start doing this if you have the infection right from the beginning, if you want to do it before you even pick up the infection, good idea.

“Take five deep breaths in, hold the breath for five seconds, on the sixth deep breath you will take it in and do a big cough, covering your mouth.

“Do this twice and then lay flat on your bed (on your stomach) with a pillow in front of you and taking slightly deeper breaths for the next ten minutes

Prince Charles and Camilla reunited before wedding anniversary

Prince Charles has been reunited with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall just days before their 15th wedding anniversary after his recovery from coronavirus.

The Prince of Wales, 71, spent seven days in isolation in Scotland, while Camilla was also isolated for 14 days, but tested negative for the disease.

Prince Charles said his symptoms were "mild" and he returned to work to virtually open the NHS Nightingale – an emergency 4000 bed ward in London's ExCel exhibition centre.

The heir to the throne spoke of the “strange, frustrating and often distressing” experience of being without friends and family.

Prince Charles' mother, the Queen, gave a rare public address to the UK and Commonwealth on Sunday evening, saying she was sure the country would "succeed" in the fight against coronavirus and it was a different challenge to anything she had previously known.

Spain's virus deaths slow for fourth day

The pace of coronavirus deaths in Spain has slowed for the fourth day in a row as the government contemplated a gradual easing of the lockdown.

Spain has been shuttered since March 14 and has the second highest death toll behind Italy from the pandemic, however the latest figures have fired hopes it could be easing.

On Monday the country reported 637 fatalities in the previous 24 hours – a 5 per cent increase in total and about half the pace of a week previously.

“We are observing that the pandemic’s growth rate is slowing down in almost every region,” Maria Jose Sierra, deputy head of Spain’s health emergency committee said.

The question now is how to widen testing enough so that restrictions can be lifted.

“We are preparing ourselves for de-escalation for which it is important to know who is contaminated to be able to gradually lift Spanish citizens’ lockdown,” she said.

Checks will now focus on the general population to find out who may be asymptomatic.

– With wires

Boris Johnson in 'good spirits' after hospital admission

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is in "good spirits" after his admission to hospital for "routine tests" while displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

The Prime Minister was hospitalised on Sunday night as a “precautionary step,” after contracting the new coronavirus 10 days ago.

He had previously described his symptoms as "mild" but had not returned to work after the seven-day isolation period. On Monday, the PM tweeted he was in "good spirits" and went into hospital on the advice of his doctor.

Mr Johnson has continued to run daily meetings from home and has posted several video messages.

His pregnant fiancee, Carrie Symonds, said she too was recovering after spending a week in bed with symptoms of the virus.

US braces for 'Pearl Harbour' moment

The US is bracing for one of their darkest weeks in living memory as the coronavirus crisis deepens.

More than 338,000 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the US, with deaths expected to pass 10,000 on Monday. The Pentagon says the number of COVID-19 cases in the active duty force topped 1,000 over the weekend.

There are a total of 1,132 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The total was 978 on Friday. There also have been 303 cases among members of the National Guard.

Among the military services, the Navy has the most cases, with 431. That includes more than 150 among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

In Washington, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of deaths.

“This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,” he told Fox News Sunday.

'It's the US stupid!'

Chinese scholars have published an open letter warning "It's the US, stupid!" calling for the US and China to co-operate to end the spread of coronavirus.

"After months of self-isolation and social distancing practiced by 1.4 billion people in China proved so effective in containing the virus, I just can't fathom why US people are still hanging out in groups, gathering for church services, going to the beach and balking at wearing a face mask," a letter in the communist party's People's Daily said.

"Do they really not know that the US is the world's most highly COVID-19-infected country?

"Do they think they are somehow spiting a deadly virus by showing off their so-called freedom and individual rights? They should at least respect other people's lives, and take a look at what people in China's Wuhan have done in the past two months by self-isolating and protecting each other."

China's health ministry said it has received reports of 39 new coronavirus cases on Monday, of which 38 came from overseas travellers.

The new domestic case was reported in Guangdong Province, the National Health Commission said.

In Hubei, where the coronavirus first originated, one person died and 10 new suspected cases were reported.

China recorded more than 82,000 cases of coronavirus after the disease was first noted there in late December, before becoming a global pandemic.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/global/coronavirus-world-live-updates/live-coverage/ca7b3a6e864a408ab06f1a5af592bf26