Boris Johnson’s father warns that Prime Minister will need time to recover

Boris Johnson’s father warned today that he will need time to recover before he “takes the reins” on Downing Street despite being removed from intensive care.

The Prime Minister appears to be on the road to recovery after a huge coronavirus scare after he was returned to the general ward at St Thomas Hospital last night.

Stanley Johnson said “relief is the right word” and admitted that his son almost “took one for the team,” insisting that there is no chance he will return to work anytime soon. Ministers have been speculating that it could be weeks before Johnson returns to action.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today show, Stanley said: ‘To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have to make sure we play the game correctly now …

“I think this is all pretty straightforward now, you should rest, as I understand it …

I don’t think it can be said that he is now out of danger. You have to take the time.

‘I don’t know the details, but I can’t believe you can get away from this and go straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment. But it’s just me speaking as a layman.

Johnson called his pregnant fiancé, Carrie Symonds, immediately after being displaced and No10 said he was in “a good mood” despite his battle with the disease.

Mrs. Symonds has been isolating herself on the Camberwell couple’s property.

The prime minister automatically isolated himself after testing positive for coronavirus two weeks ago, and was rushed to hospital on Sunday after his symptoms did not disappear.

He was then dramatically transferred to intensive care on Monday night after seeing a deterioration in his condition, with No10 forced to deny that he had been on a ventilator or was suffering from pneumonia.

The announcement that Johnson had been transferred to a room came just hours after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who had been replacing him while disabled, said he was taking “positive steps forward” in his treatment.

Last night, a spokesperson for number 10 said: ‘The Prime Minister was transferred from intensive care tonight to the ward, where he will be closely followed during the initial phase of his recovery.

“He is in a very good mood.”

However, the likelihood of a long absence for Johnson while he recovers will fuel fears of a power vacuum at the heart of the government.

Although Mr. Raab is an alternate, he does not have all the powers of a prime minister and there are claims that major decisions on the blockade are being delayed in the hope that Mr. Johnson may be involved.

The Sun revealed last night that when being transferred from the intensive care unit, Johnson’s first thought was to call Symonds and his other close relatives.

The birth of their son with Carrie Symonds, 32, is also just a few weeks away, and the couple have been separated since they became isolated on March 27.

Last night, Ms. Symonds went to Twitter where she posted a photo of a rainbow.

Along with the image, he added emojis applauding, as the nation took to the streets on Thursday for Clap for Carers.

One of the last times the Prime Minister was seen in person, and not on a zoom call, was when he stood on the door step of No. 11 last week to participate in Clap for Carers.

It will now reflect on how long Johnson could stay in the hospital before being well enough to play a role in government again.

On another tumultuous day in the fight to control the coronavirus:

• Downing Street said a closure exit strategy is being planned in Whitehall, but ministers face criticism for secrecy over the plans;
• Johnson is “continuing to improve” in intensive care, and has sat “engaging” with the medical staff treating him at St Thomas Hospital;
• A respected group of experts warned that one million people could end up with long-term health problems as a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus blockade;
• The Bank of England has extended the government’s Forms and Means provision, effectively its overdraft;
• New figures show that the economy had effectively stagnated before the coronavirus crisis hit 0.1 percent growth in the three months to February;
• It has emerged that MPs have been offered an additional £ 10,000 in expenses to help them and staff work from home;
• EU officials have accused the UK government of being in “fantasy land” by insisting that the Brexit transition period cannot extend beyond December;

It occurred when the United Kingdom recorded 881 more coronavirus deaths today, bringing Britain’s total to 7,978 as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Raab, Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, began the daily press conference on Thursday saying: “May I start with an update on the Prime Minister? He is still in intensive care, but he continues to take positive steps forward and is in good humor.

But he confirmed that he had not spoken to Johnson since taking office. When asked if they had been in contact, he replied: ‘Not yet. It is important, particularly while in intensive care, that you can focus on your recovery. ”

Raab chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Thursday afternoon, which said the blockade will continue for additional weeks despite growing fears about the economic impact.

The Foreign Secretary appealed to the public to follow the rules of social distancing while taking the daily Downing Street briefing, insisting that there will be no further information on changes in draconian curves until at least until the end of the next week.

In a clear message, Raab, deputy to Boris Johnson, said the disease should not be allowed to “kill more people and hurt our country.” We are not done yet. We must continue, “he said.

Downing Street had relayed more positive signals about the prime minister’s health on Thursday morning, saying he had a “good night” even though he is still receiving oxygen.

‘The Prime Minister had a good night and continues to improve in intensive care at St Thomas’s. He’s in a good mood, ” his spokesman said.

However, there is no sign that Johnson may be involved in decisions about the outbreak that is ravaging the country, after No10 confirmed Wednesday that he is not working.

In a round of earlier interviews, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the prime minister was doing “reasonably well.”

He told BBC Breakfast this morning: ‘He is stable, he is improving, he sat down and engaged with the medical staff.

“I have known the Prime Minister for a long time and I wish him the best in this difficult time and I think things are improving for him.”

When asked if the Prime Minister will be able to make a decision on the shutdown next week, Dowden told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “ He is in stable condition, appears to be reasonably well, was sitting and engaged with medical personnel.

“But we have a well-established mechanism for Prime Minister Dominic Raab to take the place of the Prime Minister by chairing such meetings, Cobra will chair and preside over the relevant decisions.” It’s about going through a proper process, so we’re looking forward to next week. ‘

When the virus began to take over the UK, the Prime Minister was still visiting hospitals. Many of whom were treating patients with the coronavirus.

On March 3, he said at a press conference: “I was in a hospital the other night, where I think there were actually some coronavirus patients and I shook everyone’s hand, they’d be delighted to know, and I’m still shaking hands.” ‘

Then, just a few days later, on March 5, he shook hands with Schofield and Willoughby when he appeared on This Morning for Assure the British that you would ‘keep the country fed’ during the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to prevent panic shoppers from storming supermarket shelves and stockpiling food.

She later hosts a Downing Street International Women’s Day reception with MP Nadine Dorries, who would become the prime minister to hire Covid-19.

The next day, on March 6, he met with scientists on a visit to a testing laboratory in Bedford Technology Park. Later, he was depicted shaking hands with Byron Davies when he arrived at the Conservative Party of Wales Conference at the Llangollen Pavilion.

Three days later, on March 9, he attempts to shake the hand of a bishop at Westminster Abbey before stopping while in Commonwealth Service.

But then he shakes hands with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

On March 10, he advised the British that people should stop shaking hands to encourage others to wash their hands more frequently.

Two days later, on March 12, Johnson says preventing mass gatherings is not an effective way to combat the coronavirus, but in a U-turn on March 16, he discourages mass gatherings, effectively canceling all sporting events.

The next day, March 17, he talks about the importance of social distancing, then, a day later, he says that all schools will be closed.

On March 19, he stated that the tide could change the virus within 12 weeks, the next day it enforces the closings of all pubs, bars and restaurants.

On March 23 he orders a lockdown across the UK and has since started to organize cabinet meetings remotely.

But on March 25 he speaks in person in the House of Commons. The same day, he telephones the Queen before making a video call to other G20 leaders, and then joins in with national applause for NHS staff on March 26.

On March 27, he announced that he had tested positive for the virus, but continues to work from home, chairing cabinet meetings and issuing social media releases.

In a video message on Twitter, he said: ‘I am working from home and self isolated, and that is completely the right thing to do.

“But don’t doubt that I can continue thanks to the magic of modern technology to communicate with my entire senior team to lead the national fight against the coronavirus.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19, while medical director Chris Whitty said he had symptoms of the disease and was isolating himself.

Some questioned why the prime minister had taken a governance approach as usual after putting the rest of the UK to a close, with Johnson accused of failing to follow his own advice.

The House of Commons continued to sit, with cabinet meetings and daily press sessions in person during the first weeks of March.

Three days later, Number 10 confirms that Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s top adviser, isolates himself after developing symptoms similar to the coronavirus.

The next day, Mr. Johnson tweeted a picture of the first Cabinet meeting held entirely online.

Johnson is seen in person on April 2, when he walks off 11 Downing Street to applaud the caregivers.

He said to those gathered outside, “I am not allowed to leave, I am just standing here.”

The next day, she makes a plea for people to stay home and save lives, as she still suffers from fever.

He urged people not to break the rules of social estrangement as the weather warms up, even if they were going “a little crazy.”

On April 4, Johnson’s pregnant fiancée, Carrie Symonds, 32, said she was “on the mend” after suffering from coronavirus symptoms.

Shortly after the Prime Minister’s announcement on March 27, Ms Symonds, who usually lives with him in apartment number 11, shared a photograph of herself in Camberwell, South London, with the couple’s dog, Dilyn. .

A few days later, on April 5, he entered the hospital for tests. The next day, number 10 announces that he is in intensive care.

On April 6, Mr. Johnson tweeted: ‘Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went to the hospital for some routine tests, as I am still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I am in a good mood and keep in touch with my team as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.

‘I would like to thank all the brilliant NHS staff who take care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best in Britain.

“Stay safe, and remember to stay home to protect the NHS and save lives.”

A few hours later, Downing Street said the prime minister’s condition had worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he was transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

On April 7, Downing Street said the prime minister’s condition remained “stable” and that he is in “good spirits” after his first night in intensive care, but that he would need to remain there to “monitor closely.”

However, concerns have been raised over how many decisions his deputy Dominic Raab is allowed, as the Foreign Secretary suggested that the scheduled review of the nation’s blockade restrictions would not take place.

Downing Street later confirmed that the review would take place after the three-week mark originally promised by the prime minister.

The next day, the Prime Minister was said to be “responding to treatment” after a second night in intensive care.

Downing Street said it was stable.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak later told the daily coronavirus news conference that Johnson was still in intensive care, but had been sitting up in bed and committed to his clinical team.

Today, after spending a “good night” in intensive care, Downing Street said the prime minister’s condition “continues to improve.”

At the daily coronavirus press conference, Raab, who previously chaired a Cobra committee meeting, said he had not spoken to the Prime Minister since he assumed his responsibilities.

“We in the government have this covered,” he said, adding: “I have all the authority I need to make the relevant decisions, be it presiding over cabinet updates, presiding over Cobra, or even morning meetings of high-ranking ministers.” . . ‘

Tonight Downing Street said Johnson had been transferred from intensive care to St Thomas’ ward.

Boris Johnson’s pregnant fiancé Carrie Symonds shares an image that applauds the NHS and key workers when the Prime Minister leaves intensive care and heads to a regular ward

By Claire Ellicot and Jason Grove and Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail

Carrie Symonds thanked the NHS workers Thursday night after Boris Johnson was removed from intensive care.

The Prime Minister was again transferred to a normal ward at St Thomas’ Hospital after three days in intensive care, Downing Street announced. He was said to be in “a very good mood.”

A spokesman said that “he would receive close surveillance during the first phase of his recovery.”

On Thursday night, his pregnant fiancé, Miss Symonds, posted a photo on social media of a rainbow, which has become synonymous with hope in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. He captioned it with applause just as the nation participated in the weekly ‘clap for NHS caregivers’ event.

El padre de Johnson, Stanley, dijo anoche que se sentía “profundamente aliviado”.

Johnson, de 79 años, le dijo al Mail: ‘En nombre de todos los miembros de la familia, estamos realmente aliviados de que parezca que se está moviendo en la dirección correcta, aunque reconocemos que todavía hay un largo camino hacia la recuperación total. . ‘

Refiriéndose a ‘Claps for Carers’ de anoche, agregó: ‘No es solo el maravilloso trabajo que el NHS está haciendo al servicio de Boris, sino el fantástico esfuerzo que están haciendo en todo el país. Los aplaudí de todo corazón a todas las 8 p.m. y sé que en mi pueblo local había una cacofonía de sartenes chocando y gente aplaudiendo ”.

Un portavoz del Nº 10 dijo: “El Primer Ministro fue trasladado esta noche de cuidados intensivos de regreso a la sala, donde recibirá una estrecha vigilancia”. Está de muy buen humor.

El primer ministro fue trasladado fuera de cuidados intensivos poco después de las 6 p.m. Fue ingresado en la UCI el lunes por la noche.

Una fuente No 10 dijo que había una “sensación palpable de alivio” en la mudanza en Downing Street. “Todos esperamos que siga mejorando en los próximos días”, agregó la fuente.

El secretario del Interior, Priti Patel, reveló anoche que el primer ministro había estado “mal” durante una reunión virtual del gabinete hace una semana.

“Estaba claro, francamente, que no estaba bien y necesitaba descansar y recuperarse”, dijo a Talk Radio. ‘Él es uno que ha estado trabajando a la cabeza liderando esto. Ahora tenemos que darle el tiempo y el espacio para recuperarse.

Sus comentarios sugieren que Johnson estaba mucho más enfermo de lo que Downing Street había dejado pasar después de que los funcionarios insistieron en que necesitaría aislarse solo durante siete días.

También plantea preguntas sobre por qué el Primer Ministro continuó liderando el Gobierno mientras luchaba para combatir el virus.

Hablando en la conferencia de prensa diaria de Downing Street de ayer, el diputado de Johnson, Dominic Raab, dijo: “El Primer Ministro … continúa dando pasos positivos hacia adelante y está de buen humor”. Cuando se le preguntó si podía tomar las principales decisiones requeridas en ausencia del Sr. Johnson, respondió que se trataba de un “esfuerzo de equipo”.

‘I’ve got all the authority I need to make the relevant decisions – whether it’s through chairing Cabinet updates, chairing Cobra, or indeed the morning meetings of senior ministers,’ he said. Asked if he had spoken to the PM since taking over his responsibilities, Mr Raab said: ‘Not yet, I think it’s important, particularly while he’s in intensive care, to let him focus on the recovery.’

Mr Raab took part in the weekly ‘Claps for Carers’ in the Prime Minister’s place, which the spokesman said had been providing ‘wonderful, unifying moments’ for the country. Mr Johnson was last seen in public clapping for NHS workers in Downing Street last Thursday before his admission to hospital three days later.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted last night: ‘So good that the Prime Minister is out of intensive care and on the road to recovery. The NHS is there for us all and I know our amazing NHS staff have given him their characteristic world-class care.’

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith tweeted: ‘Fantastic news that the PM has been moved from intensive care back to the ward at St Thomas’ Hospital and is in good spirits!’

‘We’re not done yet’: Dominic Raab reads the riot act as Britain suffers 881 more coronavirus deaths ahead of sunny Easter weekend and warns lockdown must REMAIN until peak is passed – amid demands for an ‘exit strategy’ before economic meltdown

Dominic Raab read the riot act to Britons ahead of the sunny Easter weekend tonight saying lockdown must stay in force until the coronavirus outbreak peaks.

The Foreign Secretary appealed to the public to keep following social distancing rules as he took the daily Downing Street briefing, insisting there will be no more information about changes to the draconian curbs until at least the end of next week.

In a stark message, Mr Raab – deputising for Boris Johnson as he is treated in intensive care – said the disease must not be allowed to ‘kill more people and hurt our country’. ‘We’re not done yet. We must keep going,’ he said.

However, ministers are facing a mounting backlash for stonewalling over their coronavirus ‘exit plan’, amid fears of massive damage to the economy. Mr Raab hinted this evening that they are avoiding doing so to avoid people ‘taking their eye off the ball’. ‘We will make the right decisions at the right moment and we will be guided by the science,’ he said.

The comments came after Mr Raab chaired the Cobra crisis meeting this afternoon, and the UK recorded another 881 deaths – although in a small relief numbers fell back from the high of almost 1,000 declared yesterday.

Far from easing the lockdown, police have been urging tighter restrictions such as barring people from driving long distances and making it illegal to exercise more than once a day – although Home Secretary Priti Patel batted away the calls tonight.

But the trade-offs involved in the national effort are becoming increasingly clear, with claims two million people have already lost their jobs.

The respected IFS think-tank has warned that more than a million people might suffer long-term illness as a result of the economic misery.

Labour’s new leader Keir Starmer said ministers must spell out their ‘exit strategy’. ‘I’m not calling for precise timings, but the strategy,’ he said. ‘This is incredibly difficult on people and we need to know that plans are in place, and what they are.’

Downing Street insisted planning is under way across Whitehall for the restrictions to be eased – but flatly refused to say what that might involve, saying the government’s focus is on tackling the epidemic.

The UK has recorded 881 more coronavirus deaths today, taking Britain’s total to 7,978 as its coronavirus crisis rumbles on and 4,344 more positive tests pushed the number of patients, past and present, to 65,077.

The grim tally is considerably smaller than the devastating 938 announced yesterday but still represents the second biggest surge since the epidemic began almost six weeks ago. Britain has so far managed to avoid the dark milestone of announcing 1,000 deaths in a single day, something that has only happened in the US.

NHS England announced 765 more fatalities in its hospitals among patients aged between 24 and 103, taking England’s total to 7,248, and 116 deaths were announced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Experts say it is still too soon to see the impact of the UK’s lockdown in daily statistics but, speaking in today’s Government briefing, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said ‘the NHS can cope’ with the current situation. Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical adviser, added ‘there is still room’ in intensive care units.

In a direct appeal to the public, Mr Raab said: ‘Above all, as we go into this long bank holiday weekend I think people should think very long and hard, not just about the guidance and the importance of keeping it up, but about what happens to those on the NHS frontline who are doing a heroic job, if people in large numbers don’t comply with those rules.

‘I would urge everyone just to take a moment before they do anything however warm it is, however great the temptation, just to think about the sacrifices those on the frontline, particularly in our NHS are making.’

Mr Raab said: ‘While the early signs suggest that they are having the impact we need to see, it’s too early to say that conclusively.

‘Sage (the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies) will meet next week to discuss the latest evidence and we will keep the measures we’ve put in place under review.’

Mr Raab added: ‘We don’t expect to be able to say more on this until the end of next week.

‘The measures will have to stay in place until we’ve got the evidence that clearly shows we’ve moved beyond the peak.’

No10 has made clear the PM will not be participating in any government business while he battles the disease in intensive care – meaning decisions are in the hands of Mr Raab and Cabinet.

Asked if he had spoken to Mr Johnson since taking over his responsibilities, Mr Raab said: ‘Not yet, I think it’s important particularly while he’s in intensive care to let him focus on the recovery.

‘We in the Government have got this covered. I chaired the Cobra meeting that I have just come from, we are pursuing all the different strands of our strategy to defeat the coronavirus and I’m confident we’ll get there.’

Nicola Sturgeon preempted the hard line on lockdown this morning, before she even attended the Cobra meeting. ‘I don’t think there is any possibility, any likelihood of these lockdown measures being lifted immediately, or even imminently,’ she told Sky News.

She added: ‘I wouldn’t expect any change coming out of today’s Cobra meeting but we will see where the discussions take us.’

Although a review of lockdown must happen next week by law, there is now no chance of it being lifted. Senior politicians are set to launch a ‘Stay at Home This Easter’ publicity drive later designed to avert an exodus of sunseekers.

A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today raised fresh questions about the trade-offs involved in the extreme curbs, which are intended to stop hundreds of thousands being killed by the disease.

The IFS said there is debate over ‘whether the adverse health effects of a recession may be greater than the increased morbidity and mortality within the pandemic itself’.

It stressed that the scale of the economic hit from the lockdown is unclear, but is likely to be ‘much larger’ than the 2008 credit crunch which meant 900,000 more people of working age developed serious health issues.

Another 500,000 are estimated to have suffered poor mental health as a result of that crisis.

If the economic hit is twice as large it would be expected to lead to 1.8million people enduring chronic illness, and a million mental health issues.

In a sign of the intensifying strain on the country’s finances, the Government said it has expanded its overdraft with the Bank of England to ensure it has sufficient cash to cope with disruption.

It said the central bank will directly finance the extra spending the Government needs on a temporary basis.

The Treasury and the Bank of England said, in a joint statement, that it would minimise the need to raise additional funding from bond markets or currency markets.

The Government’s bank account at the central bank, historically known as the Ways & Means Facility, will rise to an undisclosed amount.

Ministers will be able to spend more in the short term without having to tap into the bond markets, as a result of the move.

Any money drawn from the facility, which usually stands at around £400million, will be paid back as soon as possible before the end of the year, the Treasury said.

The measure was last used during the 2008 financial crisis, which saw its value increase briefly to £19billion.

Meanwhile, police chiefs are calling for laws to ban Britons from driving long distances and flouting the rule to exercise more than once a day ahead of a hot Easter weekend.

Officers in Windermere, Cumbria, are already sending people in pickup trucks to their homes, while locals in St. Ives, Cornwall have blocked some roads to protect vulnerable residents.

Police have also created online forms for people to report possible breaches of the blockade that was imposed on March 23 to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

At least five top officers are said to support tighter restrictions and clearer rules, including legislation to enforce the order to limit exercise to a one-hour period outdoors after some people ignored it for sunbathing in parks or beaches.

Northamptonshire Police said the ‘three-week grace period is over’ and suggested they may even start searching shopping trolleys, but how this would work is unclear.