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Coronavirus: UK prime minister Boris Johnson taken into intensive care – live updates Egypt reports 149 new virus cases – as it happened
(32 minutes later)
UK prime minister, who has coronavirus, has been moved into hospital intensive care New toll comes as UK prime minister, who has coronavirus, has been moved into hospital intensive care
We are going to close this live blog. But you can stay up to date on all the latest developments on our new blog here.
In the mean time, you can find all the latest developments below in our At A Glance summary:
Just back to Donald Trump’s marathon press conference and he is fielding questions on the US naval commander who was fired over his coronavirus memo, suggesting he doesn’t think his life should be “destroyed” as a result, Sam Levin writes:
The commander was stood down over an email in which he aired concerns about the welfare of the sailors on his ship which was docked near Guam. He has subsequently tested positive to Covid-19.
The former Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith, now Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park and minister of state in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has tweeted his support for Johnson.
The former US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has tweeted a message of support for Boris Johnson.
The Guardian’s David Smith asked Trump about Boris Johnson and whether the UK PM had been wrong about his earlier relaxed attitude to social distancing. Trump said:The Guardian’s David Smith asked Trump about Boris Johnson and whether the UK PM had been wrong about his earlier relaxed attitude to social distancing. Trump said:
Trump has repeatedly dodged questions about the inspector general report out today that said hospitals have not had access to the tests they need. Trump has interrupted questions about it, asking for the name of the inspector general and date of appointment. The president has attempted to suggest, without evidence, that the inspector general behind the report is politically motivated against Trump.Trump has repeatedly dodged questions about the inspector general report out today that said hospitals have not had access to the tests they need. Trump has interrupted questions about it, asking for the name of the inspector general and date of appointment. The president has attempted to suggest, without evidence, that the inspector general behind the report is politically motivated against Trump.
Here are Donald Trump’s comments on Boris Johnson:Here are Donald Trump’s comments on Boris Johnson:
And you can see messages of support from global leaders to the UK PM here:And you can see messages of support from global leaders to the UK PM here:
Trump was asked for more details on the medicines he said he had sent to Boris Johnson’s doctors, but he gives few more details, and does not name the companies involved.Trump was asked for more details on the medicines he said he had sent to Boris Johnson’s doctors, but he gives few more details, and does not name the companies involved.
Back to Trump’s briefing, where the president is now taking questions. First up about Boris Johnson. He says:Back to Trump’s briefing, where the president is now taking questions. First up about Boris Johnson. He says:
“I found Boris to be a fantastic person, a fantastic warm strong smart guy. He loves his country, you see that. He fought like hell for his country. But intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff...”“I found Boris to be a fantastic person, a fantastic warm strong smart guy. He loves his country, you see that. He fought like hell for his country. But intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff...”
When asked about the news of the UK prime minister meant the White House would reconsider its own safety procedures, Trump said: “Mike had his test ... I had my test ... We’re here and here you are.” He said because of “questions like that”, the White House will probably do more tests, which he said are so “quick and easy”.When asked about the news of the UK prime minister meant the White House would reconsider its own safety procedures, Trump said: “Mike had his test ... I had my test ... We’re here and here you are.” He said because of “questions like that”, the White House will probably do more tests, which he said are so “quick and easy”.
The UK’s former justice secretary, David Gauke, has said his thoughts are with Boris Johnson, his fiancée Carrie Symonds and Johnson’s family.The UK’s former justice secretary, David Gauke, has said his thoughts are with Boris Johnson, his fiancée Carrie Symonds and Johnson’s family.
Gauke told the BBC that Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Johnson, will have an experienced and supportive team around him.Gauke told the BBC that Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Johnson, will have an experienced and supportive team around him.
Some context on Trump’s claim he is working with the FDA and companies are ready to assist London:
In the week beginning 30 March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided hydroxychloroquine with an “emergency use authorisation” to use on coronavirus patients in some circumstances. State officials in New York have said that about 4,000 seriously ill patients are now being treated with the drug.
But critics point out a side effect is heart stoppage, meaning the drug is potentially deadly. Some medical experts have called for the drug to be used to treat the virus but others have cautioned its need for more trials and controlled testing to avoid worsening the pandemic.
Here’s a little more on Trump’s comments at his daily briefing just now. He has told reporters:
The US president, Donald Trump, has said he is praying for Johnson.
Here’s a little more reaction to the news that the UK’s prime minister has been moved to intensive care:
Egypt has reported 149 new cases; its highest daily toll since confirming the first infection in February.
The North African country, which also reported seven new fatalities on Monday, has recorded 1,322 cases including 85 deaths so far. A total of 259 people had recovered and been released from hospitals, the country’s health ministry added.
A heart surgeon who worked at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff has died after testing positive. The Cardiff and Vale University health board said:
The British pound has dropped against the US dollar after it emerged the UK’s prime minister had been moved into intensive care.
The pound had been trading higher against the dollar and the euro, but fell sharply on the announcement. Sterling was down 0.3% against the dollar to $1.2229 and down 0.1% against the euro to €1.1326 shortly afterwards.
Political leaders across the world, as well as former British prime ministers, are offering their best wishes to the UK’s prime minister. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, tweets:
Buckingham Palace says the Queen has been kept informed of the prime minister’s condition by No 10.
The UK’s foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the prime minister while he receives intensive care in hospital, says government business will continue.
Appearing on BBC shortly after the news of the deterioration of Boris Johnson’s condition, Raab said the is an “incredibly strong team spirit” behind the prime minister and that ministers will focus on delivering the plans he put in place.
He says Johnson is in safe hands at St Thomas’s hospital in London and is receiving excellent care.
Raab vows that the government will bring the whole country through the pandemic.