Boris Johnson ‘responding to treatment’ but remains in intensive care, No 10 says
'PM remains clinically stable and is responding to treatment,' says Downing Street
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson is “responding to treatment” and in a stable condition but remains in intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital, No 10 has said.
The latest update comes after the prime minister spent a second evening in the central London hospital’s critical care unit after being initially admitted on Sunday – ten days after testing positive for coronavirus.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, the PM’s official spokesperson said: “The prime minister remains clinically stable and is responding to treatment. He continues to be cared for in the intensive care unit at St Thomas’ hospital. He’s in good spirits”.
They added: “The information in the update we have provided was given to us by St Thomas’ hospital and it contains all of the information that the PM’s medical team consider to be clinically relevant.”
The spokesperson also said Mr Johnson will not be working while in intensive care and Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, will be deputising in his absence.
“He has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times,” they said.
Before receiving treatment at hospital, Mr Johnson had been self-isolating in his Downing Street flat – above Number 11 – and was still in charge of coordinating the government’s response.
Earlier, the health minister Edward Argar told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Mr Johnson has been given “some oxygen” during his time in hospital, but has not required any mechanical ventilation.
“Everyone wishes him and Carrie [Symonds] very well, wishes him a swift and full recovery. He’s not just our prime minister, for many of us he’s our colleague, he’s our boss, and he’s a friend and we’re all keen to see him make that swift recovery.”
On Tuesday evening, the US president Donald Trump joined world leaders in wishing the prime minister a speedy recovery, as he said America was “praying” for Mr Johnson to return to good health.
“He’s become a great friend of ours. He loves his country but he loves the USA and he has always been very good to us. Whenever we have a difficulty he has been with us and we appreciate it,” he said.
No 10 said they were “hugely grateful” for the messages of support the prime minister has received from around the world. "I think the public response to coronavirus throughout has been fantastic and that has been best exemplified by the applause they've been giving to NHS staff every week,” the spokesperson added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments