BORIS MOVED TO INTENSIVE CARE AS HEALTH WORSENS
BORIS Johnson was in intensive care in hospital last night after his coronavirus symptoms dramatically worsened.
Doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital in London decided to move the Prime Minister to the specialist care unit as a precaution in case he needed a ventilator to assist his breathing.
He was understood to be conscious. He asked Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him. Mr Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) at St Thomas’ at around 7pm.
His medical team made the decision to move him to the unit after his condition deteriorated over the course of the afternoon.
Before he was moved to ICU, the Prime Minister asked the Foreign Secretary to deputise for him where necessary.
Newly-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described last night’s announcement as “terribly sad news”.
He said: “All the country’s thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “My thoughts tonight are with Boris Johnson and [pregnant fiancee] Carrie Symonds.
“I know he’ll be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted a picture of herself with the Prime Minister, saying: “My love & thoughts are with Boris Johnson, Carrie Symonds & the Prime Minister’s family. For you & thinking of you.”
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Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt sent a message saying: “Keeping fighting Boris. Whole country behind you BackBoris.”
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: “Tonight we’re all wishing Boris Johnson well for a swift recovery.
“I know the NHS will be truly brilliant in caring for him and I again send my very best wishes to his family.”
Former prime minister David Cameron said: “Thinking of Boris Johnson and his family tonight. Get well soon. You are in great hands and we all want you safe, well and back in 10 Downing Street.”
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: “I hope and pray for Boris Johnson to come through this ordeal quickly.”
Dr Sandeep Kupur, senior physician at the Mayo Clinic, London, said: “The Prime Minister would have been admitted to ICU because his oxygen levels were low.
“He was probably on oxygen overnight and I suspect he hasn’t responded to that so they have moved him with a view to him being put on a ventilator. There is no treatment for this, it is purely supportive because the body’s immune system has to take care of the virus. If his oxygen level in blood goes down there is a risk of multi-organ failure.
“This is serious. It is a very serious development. We know once these patients are intubated [placed on a ventilator] they are there for at least two weeks.
“He obviously has pre-existing conditions and some risk factors which has probably not helped.
This is very concerning.”
Mr Johnson had earlier been working from his hospital bed on his “red boxes” of official papers.
He declared himself in good spirits, calling NHS staff “brilliant” and “the best of British”.
Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital for observation on Sunday night because of a continuing cough and bouts of high temperature, 10 days after being diagnosed with coronavirus. He tweeted yesterday: “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.
Mr Johnson was likely to have undergone several tests to check his oxygen levels, white blood cell count and liver and kidney unction, medical experts say.
Last night, before news of his intensive care admission broke, Mr Raab said ministers were working “at full throttle” to implement the Prime Minister’s decisions.
Ms Symonds has been in self-isolation at her south London home.
At the weekend she revealed she had been suffering from “the
main coronavirus symptoms” for a week, but was “on the mend.”
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said yesterday: “He’s been working extremely hard leading the Government and being constantly updated. I’m sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the Government from the front, but nonetheless he’s still very much in charge of the Government.”
US President Donald Trump said earlier: “I’m sure he is going to be fine, he’s a strong man, a strong person.”
Former prime minister Tony Blair, who underwent heart surgery while in office, yesterday expressed “sympathy and solidarity” with Mr Johnson.
Senior Tories yesterday urged the Prime Minister to rest and recuperate.
James Duddridge, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign Office, tweeted: “Take care boss. Get well. Come back fighting. But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift.”
Former civil service chief Lord Kerslake said it might be “sensible” for Mr Johnson to “step back” if he was not well enough to carry out his role temporarily. Mr Johnson’s strategy chief Dominic Cummings, in self isolation after suffering Covid-19 symptoms, had not returned to No 10 yesterday.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty returned to Number 10 after a period in self-isolation after suffering coronavirus symptoms.
He said: “My advice to the Prime Minister was to take the medical advice of the excellent NHS doctors advising him.
“After that, I didn’t want to muddle my role with him.
“I’m not his medical practitioner, I’m his adviser on wider issues.”