Three things from Boris Johnson's back to work statement you need to know - the most important takeaways and questions

The Prime Minister made his first public appearance on Monday morning since being felled by covid-19 three weeks ago.

Standing on the steps of 10 Downing Street Boris Johnson warned the public that it was too risky to lift lockdown in a hurry.

Here are the three main messages from the Prime Minister and three big questions confronting him as he returns to work.

1 - Get used to lockdown

Johnson’s personal brush with covid-19, the “invisible mugger” as he described it, has persuaded him that he cannot risk lifting lockdown and allow the virus a second chance to devastate the health of the nation and the economy.

We are going to be working from home, on furlough and missing school for weeks to come. The big question for the Prime Minister is how to carefully ease restrictions and how to fine tune his communication so that the public stay on board with his new “let’s keep going” message.

2 - I’m the comeback kid

Although he won’t face the press at the daily 5pm briefing Johnson was anxious to show that he was back in charge by  making an appearance early doors.

He looked recovered, his voice firm if a bit wheezy at times. He deployed his usual confident optimism about defeating the virus. While he did not shy away from mentioning the challenges of PPE, testing and containment he faces growing criticism of his government’s response and he will not be able to dodge scrutiny from the media or at Prime Minister’s Questions later this week.

3 - A new openness is promised

As well as pledging to get on top of every issue the Prime Minister said he would seek consensus across the business and political world in the next phase of lifting lockdown.

The word transparency was mentioned, showing Downing Street has clearly been stung by accusations that it is not listening to opponents and claims that Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings sat in on meetings debating the scientific advice.

How far will this new era of transparency and cross-party co-operation extend and, as other European countries, start opening up how long will the UK lockdown last?