Boris Johnson 'stable' and 'in good spirits' after night in intensive care fighting coronavirus

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Boris Johnson/Twitter

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “stable” and in “good spirits” after a night in intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he had been receiving “standard oxygen treatment” but had not required any other assistance in breathing.

Mr Johnson was transferred to the intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, on Monday evening, after his condition deteriorated.

His spokesman said the move was a “precautionary step” in case he needed to be put on a ventilator while being treated for coronavirus.

“The Prime Minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits,” the spokesman said.

Dominic Raab is deputising for Boris Johnson
PA

“He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any other assistance.

“He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.”

Mr Johnson 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 today, Mr Johnson's friend and Cabinet colleague Michael Gove, who is now self-isolating, described the virus as “truly frightening” .

Mr Gove was grilled for updates on the PM’s medical condition during a round of media interviews this morning. “He is not on a ventilator. The Prime Minister has received some oxygen support,” Mr Gove told LBC radio.

“He is kept, of course, under close supervision. By being in intensive care if there is further support he needs it is there at hand.”

He was also interrogated about whether the PM had overworked during his illness. “The Prime Minister loves this country, he wants to do his very best for us,” he said, suggesting Mr Johnson could not be stopped from working.

Mr Gove stressed that the PM’s diary had been “stripped back” last week and that he had followed medical advice at all times.

“The Prime Minister is someone who has amazing energy, great determination, a desire all the time to make sure that things are moving forward,” Mr Gove told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “He displays a great zest for life on the tennis court, but he also in government is a force of nature, a bundle of energy, determined to do the very best for the country that he loves, and therefore it’s naturally concerning when the Prime Minister is ill, but he is receiving the best possible treatment.”​

Dominic Raab is “in charge” of the Government and national security and visited No 10 to chair the daily meeting of ministers and officials tackling Covid-19.​

Foreign Secretary Mr Raab, who is also First Secretary of State and therefore de facto deputy PM, went into 10 Downing Street to chair the daily emergency planning meeting in the Cabinet room.

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Matt Hancock, the Heath Secretary, was also there but other ministers took part by video link. Mr Raab remains based full time at the Foreign Office rather than Number 10. Downing Street last night acknowledged that the PM may have to go onto a ventilator, a step that would involve being rendered unconscious and incapacitated.​

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