Boris Johnson has spent a second night in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus and remains in a “stable condition”, according to the latest update from Downing Street.
It comes after the prime minister was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London on Sunday evening – ten days after testing positive for covid 19 – and transferred to critical care on Monday when his symptoms worsened.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, the health minister Edward Argar told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Mr Johnson remained in “good spirits” and a stable condition.
“He hasn’t had to have mechanical ventilation although he did have some oxygen when he first went into hospital,” he said.
“Everyone wishes him and Carrie [Symonds] very well, wishes him a swift and full recovery. He’s not just our nation’s 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.”
Last night, a No 10 spokesperson added: “The prime minister’s condition is stable and he remains in intensive care for close monitoring. He is in good spirits.”
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.
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.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the prime minister in his absence, said at the daily No 10 press conference on Tuesday that he was “confident” Mr Johnson would pull through
“If there's one thing I know about this prime minister, he's a fighter and he'll be back at the helm leading us through this crisis in short order," he said.
He said that ministers would not "blink or flinch" from following the instructions Mr Johnson had set out before he was hospitalised.
But he appeared reluctant to say whether he would be prepared to take a decision to break with the Prime Minister's strategy while he was still in hospital if he believed a change of direction was necessary.
"He's asked me to deputise for him for as long as is necessary, but the normal Cabinet collective responsibility and principles that inform that will apply," he said.
Despite questions over the ability of the government to function while Mr Johnson is intensive care, former prime minister Theresa May told the BBC: “I know from everything I’ve seen and heard that cabinet, which is supported by excellent scientific advice, by a first class civil service, they are absolutely committed to dealing with this crisis”.
