PM responds to treatment as 938 die in 24 hours

BORIS Johnson is “responding to treatment” as he remains in a stable condition in the intensive care unit where he is being treated for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister continued to be in “good spirits” yesterday after spending his third night in St Thomas’s Hospital in London, his official spokesman said.

Mr Johnson was said to no longer be working while following the advice of doctors and receiving just the “standard oxygen treatment” and “breathing without any other assistance”.

When asked about further specifics about his condition or treatment, the spokesman said the update includes all the information the PM’s medical team “considers to be clinically relevant”.

Downing Street thanked the public for messages of support.

Asked if anyone has been in contact with the PM, the spokesman said: “The PM is not working, he’s in intensive care, he has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times.

“We are hugely grateful for the messages of support that the Prime Minister has received.

“I think the public response to coronavirus throughout has been fantastic and that has been best exemplified by the applause they’ve been giving to NHS staff every week.”

As the Government prepares to review the restrictions imposed across the UK, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said the lockdown will not end in Wales next week.

“We will not throw away the gains we have made and the lives we have saved by abandoning our efforts just as they begin to bear fruit,” he added.

With the death toll across the UK continuing to rise, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab again chaired the daily Covid-19 meeting yesterday morning as he deputises for Mr Johnson.

Asked if anyone has been in contact with the Prime Minister, his spokesman said: “The PM is not working, he’s in intensive care, he has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times.”

At least 7,097 patients have now died in UK hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19 as of 5pm on Tuesday, the Department of Health said, a rise of 938 from the day before.

NHS England said that the total number of people who have died in English hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus is 6,483, a rise of 828 on the figure announced on Tuesday.

The patients were aged between 22 and 103-years-old. It added that 46 of the 828 had no known underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile, No 10 said the threeweek review of the lockdown will take place “on or around” the threeweek mark on Monday, the date Mr