COVID-19: ‘In Good Spirits,’ Says Govt as UK PM Moves Out of ICU
Earlier on Thursday, Downing Street had confirmed that UK PM continues to improve on his third night in the ICU.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved out of intensive care as his condition improves, Downing Street said on Thursday, 9 April, evening.
"The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery. He is in extremely good spirits," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Johnson while he is in hospital, had told reporters during the daily briefing that the Prime Minister continues to make positive steps forwards and is in good spirits .
Earlier on Thursday, Downing Street had confirmed that Johnson continues to improve after he spent a third night in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a London hospital with coronavirus.
UK PM in ‘Good Spirits’
He has since received "standard oxygen treatment" but has not been diagnosed with pneumonia or required a ventilator to aid his breathing.
"The Prime Minister had a good night and continues to improve in intensive care at St. Thomas' Hospital. He's in good spirits," a Downing Street spokesperson said, providing a health update on the UK PM.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the UK PM while he continues treatment for COVID-19, will chair a virtual Cobra emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss a review of the UK's coronavirus lockdown to consider whether the strict social distancing measures should be extended beyond the 21-day period initially announced by Johnson on 23 March.
The measures are set to end next Monday but indications are that they would have to be extended.
Modi, Trump & Other Leaders Extended Wishes to UK PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, 6 April, extended wishes to the UK prime minster and tweeted, “Hang in there, Prime Minister Boris Johnson! Hope to see you out of hospital and in perfect health very soon.”
US President Donald Trump said that all Americans were praying for the British prime minister’s good health.
"I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus, Trump told reporters during a press briefing at the White House on Sunday.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were among other world leaders who wished Boris Johnson a speedy recovery.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the People of Israel pray for the speedy and full recovery of our friend British Prime Minister @BorisJohnson,” tweeted Netanyahu.
Emmanuel Macron tweeted, “I send all my support to Boris Johnson, to his family and to the British people at this difficult moment. I wish him a speedy recovery at this testing time.”
Earlier in the day on Monday, 6 April, Johnson had messaged from his hospital bed to say that he was in good spirits and staying in contact with his ministers to oversee the UK's coronavirus fightback despite his hospitalisation.
He was last seen in public applauding the NHS and other key workers just outside his flat in Downing Street last Thursday and posted his last Twitter video message on Friday in which he looked quite unwell as he said he was still displaying minor symptoms.
His hospitalisation comes as the number of coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK reached 5,373 and the UK's Department of Health said there were now 51,608 confirmed coronavirus cases.
(With inputs from PTI)