Boris Johnson 'responding to treatment and remains stable in ICU'
Boris Johnson is “responding to treatment” as he remains in a stable condition in the intensive care unit where he is being treated for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister continued to be in “good spirits” on Wednesday after spending his third night in St Thomas’s Hospital in London, his official spokesman said.
Mr Johnson was said to be no longer working while following the advice of doctors and receiving just the “standard oxygen treatment” and “breathing without any other assistance”.
When asked about further specifics about his condition or treatment, the spokesman said the update includes all the information the PM’s medical team “considers to be clinically relevant”.
Mr Johnson was moved to the critical care unit on Monday evening after his symptoms of the virus worsened.
He was originally admitted to St Thomas’ on Sunday on the advice of his doctor after continuing to display symptoms of cough and high temperature ten days after testing positive for the virus.
Earlier on Wednesday, Health Minister Edward Argar said: “Although he had oxygen when he was admitted, he hasn’t needed mechanical ventilation.
"And I think, judging by the emails I’m getting from around the country and indeed right across the political spectrum, the message is everybody sends him and Carrie their very best wishes and wishes him a very full and very speedy recovery.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab again chaired the daily Covid-19 meeting on Wednesday morning as he deputises for Mr Johnson.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said Mr Johnson is a "fighter" who "will pull through".
Asked if anyone has been in contact with the Prime Minister, his spokesman said: “The PM is not working, he’s in intensive care, he has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times.”
He added that Downing Street was “hugely grateful” for the messages of support that Mr Johnson has received as he undergoes treatment.
Social media users have even launched a campaign calling for Britons to "Clap for Boris" in a show of support for the Prime Minister, in the same way support has been shown to NHS staff and key workers.
The hashtag #ClapforBoris started trending on Twitter in the UK, with some users calling on people to clap "whatever your political views are" and regardless of whether they "love him or hate him".
It comes as Downing Street said the three-week review of the coronavirus lockdown will go ahead as planned, but that the public needed to “stick with it” at a “critical time” in the epidemic.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the review would take place “on or around” the three-week mark on Monday.
At the same time, he said the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, and the chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, had both made it clear that it was too early to say when the coronavirus pandemic would reach its peak and it would be safe to ease the restrictions.
“Our focus for now needs to be relentlessly upon stopping the transmission of this disease while building capacity in the NHS. That is how we will save lives,” the spokesman said.
“We need to keep delivering a very clear message to the public that while this is difficult we need to stick with it.
“We are at a critical time in our fight against coronavirus and they need to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
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