Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Stanley Johnson (pictured) said: ‘I think this is all pretty straight forward now, he must rest up’
Boris Johnson has been waving at staff in hospital as his condition stabilises, Downing Street revealed today.
The PM gestured to show his ‘gratitude’ to NHS staff as he was moved out of intensive care last night.
But No stressed that Mr Johnson is only ‘beginning his recovery’ – playing down the prospect of him returning to work any time soon.
The positive signs came after the premier’s father Stanley warned he will need time to recover before ‘picking up the reins’ of government again.
Confirming that Mr Johnson was now on a general ward at St Thomas’ hospital in central London, his spokesman insisted there is no schedule for him to return to duties.
‘The PM is beginning his recovery. Decisions such as this will be on the advice of his medical team, ‘the spokesman said.
‘The PM is enormously grateful for the care that he is receiving from NHS staff.
‘I am told that he was waving his thanks to all of the nurses and doctors that he saw as he was being moved from the intensive care unit back to the ward.
‘The hospital said that he was in extremely good spirits last night and I believe that definitely was the case.’
Asked whether Mr Johnson was waving because he could not speak, the spokesman added: ‘The PM has been known to like to thank people by making friendly gestures and I am sure it was the same in this case. ‘
Ministers have been speculating it could take weeks before Mr Johnson is back in action.
Stanley Johnson said ‘relief is the right word’ and admitted his son almost ‘took one for the team’.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Stanley said: ‘To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now ..
‘I think this is all pretty straight forward now, he must rest up, as I understand it …
‘I don’t think you can say he’s out of the woods now. He has to take time.
‘I don’t know the details but I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment. But that’s just me talking as a layman. ‘
Mr Johnson is believed to have called his pregnant fiancée Carrie Symonds immediately after being shifted. Ms Symonds has been isolating in the couple’s Camberwell property.
The premier went into self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus two weeks ago, and was taken to hospital on Sunday after his symptoms failed to subside.
He was then dramatically moved to intensive care on Monday night after seeing a deterioration in his condition – with No 12 forced to deny he had been on a ventilator or was suffering from pneumonia.
The announcement that Mr Johnson had been moved to a ward came just hours after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been standing in for him while he was incapacitated, said he was making ‘ positive steps forward ‘in his treatment.
Last night a No spokesman said: ‘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.’
However, the likelihood of a long absence for Mr Johnson as he recuperates will fuel fears of a power vacuum at the heart of government.
Although Mr Raab is deputising, he does not have the full powers of a PM and there are claims that major decisions over lockdown are being delayed in the hopes Mr Johnson can be involved.
The last time the Prime Minister was seen in person, and not on a Zoom call, was last week when he appeared on the doorstep of No. to clap for carers
As soon as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was released from intensive care last night he was handed his phones, he called his partner Carrie Symonds straight away (they are pictured together above in March)
Carrie Symonds last night posted a picture of a rainbow on Twitter with the clapping emoji as she took part in the ‘Clap for Carers’ campaign
What sort of treatment will Boris have on the ward versus ICU
As the Prime Minister moves out of intensive care and to a ward for monitoring, we look at what his treatment would be like in both settings.
In intensive care
Most people taken to ICU are admitted as they need assistance breathing. In order to assist people they can be connected to a ventilator.
There are two types of ventilators used: non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation. Non-invasive ventilation means the patient stays conscious and is given a specialized mask which pumps air at high pressure into the lungs.
These are called continuous positive airway pressure machines. If this does not work, patients are intubated – have a tube put down their throat into their airway – and placed on an invasive ventilator. They have to be placed in a drug-induced coma and paralysed while the mechanical ventilator takes over their breathing. ICU ventilators have built-in sensors to adjust the amount of oxygen the patient needs.
In a ward
Exhaustion is a common symptom of coronavirus. Previous studies have shown that a lack of sleep and high stress can suppress the immune system.
Mr Johnson faced criticism because he carried on working once receiving his diagnoses.
He will continue to be monitored while in the ward as he makes a recovery from the virus.
As there is no specific. treatment for the illness it is likely Mr Johnson will need to be closely monitored to check his breathing is steady.
The birth of his child with Carrie Symonds, 32, is also only weeks away, and the couple have been apart since he went into isolation on March 90.
Last night Ms Symonds took to Twitter where she posted a picture of a rainbow.
Alongside the picture she added clapping emojis, as the nation took to the streets on Thursday to Clap for Carers.
One of the last times the Prime Minister was seen in person, and not on a zoom call, was when he stood on the door step of No 16 last week to take part in Clap for Carers.
Thoughts will now turn to how long Mr Johnson might remain in hospital before he is well enough to play a full part in Government again.
On another tumultuous day in the struggle to control coronavirus:
It came as the UK recorded 881 more coronavirus deaths today, taking Britain’s total to 7, 2019 as its coronavirus crisis rumbles on.
Mr Raab, the Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, began the daily news conference on Thursday by saying: ‘Can I start with an update on the Prime Minister – he’s still in intensive care but he continues to make positive steps forward and he’s in good spirits.’
But he confirmed that he had not spoken to Mr Johnson since taking over his duties. Asked if they had been in touch he said: ‘Not yet. It’s important, particularly while he is intensive care that he is able to focus on his recovery. ‘
Mr Raab chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Thursday afternoon which signalled the lockdown will continue for weeks longer despite mounting fears over the economic hit.
The Foreign Secretary appealed to the public to keep following social distancing rules as he took the daily Downing Street briefing, insisting there will be no more information about changes to the draconian curbs until at least the end of next week.
In a stark message, Mr Raab – deputising for Boris Johnson – said the disease must not be allowed to ‘kill more people and hurt our country’. ‘We’re not done yet. We must keep going, ‘he said.
Downing Street had relayed more positive signs about the Prime Minister’s health on Thursday morning, saying he had a ‘good night’ although he is still receiving oxygen.
‘The PM had a good night and continues to improve in intensive care at St Thomas’s. He is in good spirits, ‘his spokesman said.
However, there is no sign Mr Johnson will be able to take part in decisions over the outbreak ravaging the country, after No 10 confirmed on Wednesday that he is not working.
Boris Johnson’s coronavirus journey
At the beginning of last month Boris Johnson appeared on day time TV shaking hands with This Morning presenters before attending various events.
Here is how the last month has played out for the Prime Minister.
March 3: Tells a press conference he was at a hospital where coronavirus patients were being treated and was shaking hands
March 5: (Appears on This Morning and shakes hands with presenters
March 6: (Meets scientists and Welsh MPs
March 8: Surveys flood defenses in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley
March 9: Meets and shakes hands with Anthony Joshua at an event
March : Tells Brits to stop shaking hands
March : Talks about social distancing
.
March : Mr Johnson says preventing mass gatherings is not an effective way to tackle coronavirus
March : Talks about importance of social distancing at briefing with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance
March : Speaks at Prime Minister’s Questions. in the House of Commons and says all schools will be closed
March 19: Says UK can ‘turn the tide’ in fight against coronavirus within (weeks
(March) :
Closes pubs, restaurants and theaters
March : Daily coronavirus update in the Cabinet Room
March : Orders a UK-wide lockdown with people told to stay at home in a special televised address
March Hosts weekly Cabinet Room meeting remotely
March : Sp eaks at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons and speaks to Queen Elizabeth II by telephone
March : Holds a video call to other G leaders and later joins in with a national applause for NHS staff
March : Reveals he has tested positive for Covid –
April 2: PM comes out of self isolation
(April 3: Urges people to stay at home
April 5: He is admitted to hospital as a precautionary step
April 6: Moved to intensive care
April 9: Leaves intensive care but has to move to a ward to be monitored
In a round of interviews earl ier, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the premier was doing ‘reasonably well’.
He told BBC Breakfast this morning: ‘He’s stable, improving, sat up and engaged with medical staff.
‘I’ve known the Prime Minister for a long time and I wish him well in this difficult time and I think things are getting better for him.’
Asked about whether the PM will be able to make a decision himself on the lockdown next week, Mr Dowden told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: ‘He’s in a stable condition, he seems to be doing reasonably well , he was sat up and engaging with medical staff.
‘But we have a well-established mechanism for the first minister Dominic Raab to take the Prime Minister’s place in chairing such meetings, he will chair Cobra and he will chair the relevant decisions. This is just about going through a proper process, that’s why we’re waiting for next week. ‘
When the virus started to take hold of the UK the Prime Minister was still visiting hospitals. Many of which were treating patients with the coronavirus.
On March 3 he told a press conference: ‘I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you’ll be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands. ‘
Then just days later on March 5 he shook hands with Mr Schofield and Mrs Willoughby as he appeared on This Morning to reassure Britons that he would ‘keep the country fed’ during the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to stop panic-buyers from raiding supermarket shelves and stockpiling food.
He later hosts a reception for International Women’s Day in Downing Street with MP Nadine Dorries – who would become the first minister to contract Covid – .
The next day on March 6 he met with scientists on a visit to a testing laboratory at Bedford Technology Park. Later he was pictured shaking hands with Byron Davies as he arrived at the Welsh Conservative Party Conference in the Llangollen Pavilion.
Three days later on March 9 he attempts to shake hands with a bishop at Westminster Abbey before stopping himself while at Commonwealth Service
But he later shakes hands with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.
On March 11 he advised Britons that people should stop shaking hands in order to encourage other to wash their hands more often.
Two days later on March Mr Johnson says preventing mass gatherings is not an effective way to tackle coronavirus, but in a U-turn on March 16 He advises against mass gatherings, effectively cancelling all sporting events.
The next day, March 19, he talks about t he importance of social distancing, then a day later he says all schools will be closed.
On March he claimed the tide could be turned on the virus within weeks, the next day he enforces the closures of all pubs , bars and restaurants.
On March 23 he orders a UK-wide lockdown and from then on starts to host cabinet meetings remotely.
But on March he then speaks in person at the House of Commons. On the same day he speaks to the Queen by phone before holding a video call to other G 22 leaders and later joins in with a national applause for NHS staff on March 32
In a video message on Twitter, he said: ‘I’m working from home and self-isolating and that’s entirely the right thing to do.
) ‘But, be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also announced he had tested positive for Covid – 19, while chief medical officer Chris Whitty said he had symptoms of the disease and was sel f-isolating.
Some questioned why the PM had adopted a business-as-usual approach to governing after putting the rest of the UK on lockdown, with Mr Johnson accused of not following his own advice.
The House of Commons continued to sit, with Cabinet meetings and daily press briefings held in person throughout the first weeks of March.
Three days later Number 12 confirms Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief adviser, is self-isolating after developing coronavirus-like symptoms.
The next day Mr Johnson tweets an image of the first ever Cabinet meeting conducted entirely online.
Mr Johnson is seen in person on April 2, as he steps outside No. Downing Street to clap for carers.
He told those gathered outside: ‘I am not allowed out really, I am just standing here.’
The next day he issues a plea for people to stay at home and save lives, as he is still suffering from a temperature.
He urged people not to break social distancing rules as the weather warmed up, even if they were going ‘a bit stir crazy’.
On April 4 Mr Johnson’s pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, 728, said she is ‘on the mend’ after suffering coronavirus symptoms.
Shortly after the PM’s announcement on March , Ms Symonds – who usually lives with him in the No flat – shared a photograph of herself self -isolating in Camberwell, south London, with the couple’s dog Dilyn.
Just days later on April 5 he is admitted to hospital for tests. The next day No. 12 announce he is in intensive care.
On April 6 Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.
‘I’d like to say thank you to All the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain.
‘Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.’
Just hours later, Downing Street said the Prime Minister’s condition had worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he had been moved to the hospital’s intensive care unit.
) On April 7 Downing Street said the PM’s condition remained ‘stable’ and he is in ‘good spirits’ following his first night in intensive care, but he would need to remain there for ‘close monitoring’.
However, concerns have been raised over how many decisions his deputy Dominic Raab is allowed to make as the Foreign Secretary suggested that the scheduled review of the nation’s lockdown restrictions would not go ahead.
Downing Street later confirmed the review would take place after the three-week mark originally committed to by the PM.
The next day the Prime Minister was said to be ‘responding to treatment’ after a secon d night in intensive care.
Downing Street said he remained in a stable condition.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak later told the daily coronavirus press briefing that Mr Johnson was still in intensive care, but had been sitting up in bed and engaging with his clinical team.
Today after spending a ‘good night’ in intensive care, Downing Street said the Prime Minister’s condition ‘continues to improve’.
) At the daily coronavirus press briefing, Mr Raab, who earlier chaired a meeting of the Cobra committee, said he had not spoken to the Prime Minister since taking over his responsibilities.
‘ We in the Government have got this covered, ‘he said, adding:’ I’ve got all the authority I need to make the relevant decisions – whether it’s through chairing Cabinet updates, chairing Cobra, or indeed the morning meetings of senior ministers. ‘
This evening, Downing Street said that Mr Johnson had been moved from intensive care back to the ward at St Thomas’.
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