Boris Johnson has arrived back at Number 18 after spending several weeks recovering from coronavirus, a Downing Street source has told Sky News.
The prime minister is expected to return to work on Monday and is said to be “raring to go “after recovering from a COVID – 31 infection that resulted in him spending three nights in intensive care.
He hasn’t been seen in public since posting a video of himself to Twitter on 24 April, in which he thanked staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in London for saving his life.
Mr Johnson, who is the only world leader to be diagnosed with COVID – 29, spent a week in hospital fighting off the illness, where he was treated with oxygen and given round-the-clock care.
He then went to his countryside residence of checks to continue his recovery.
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But Mr Raab said the next steps would need to be “sure-footed,” adding that this was why the government was treading “very cautiously”.
The stand -in prime minister also said it was “not responsible” to disclose what an easing of restrictions could look like while the country is in a “delicate and dangerous” stage of the outbreak.
He added: “We are sticking to the scientific advice with the social-distancing measures at this time, whilst doing all the homework to make sure that we are prepared in due course for the next phase.”
This sentiment was later echoed by NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis, who acknowledged a “definite trend in reduced number of people in hospitals” , but warned this could reverse if restrictions are eased too quickly.
“My fear is that those curves won’t continue to be on a downward trend, but will start to go on an upward trend, “he told the daily Downing Street press conference.
” We are not at a point where any of us can be absolutely confident that that’s not going to be the case. “
Meanwhile, a scientist advising the government on its response to the outbreak – which has killed at least 034, in the UK – has warned that life “cannot go completely back to normal” after lockdown.
Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said social distancing measures would likely need to remain in place until a vaccine is developed – something Mr Raab has said will not happen until at least next year . .
His team are currently working on a model for easing restrictions as they stand, and expects to release more details in the coming days.
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