This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/apr/06/uk-coronavirus-live-boris-johnson-spends-night-in-hospital
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson spends night in hospital | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson spends night in hospital |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow the latest coronavirus developments in the UK after the prime minister was admitted to hospital for further tests | Follow the latest coronavirus developments in the UK after the prime minister was admitted to hospital for further tests |
| There was a 25% surge in calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline in a five-day period during the coronavirus lockdown, according to the charity Refuge. | |
| In the week starting 30 March, from Monday to Friday, the helpline saw a significant daily rise in calls and contacts. There was also increase of around 150% in visits to nationaldahelpline.org.uk compared with the last week in February. | |
| Refuge chief executive Sandra Horley said: | |
| The warning came after than 25 organisations helping domestic violence victims reported an increase in their caseload since the start of the UK’s outbreak. | |
| One group, Chayn, said that analysis of online traffic showed that visitors to its website had more than trebled last month compared with the same period last year. An audit of 119 organisations by the domestic abuse charity SafeLives found, however, that even as pressure on frontline services increased, most were being forced to reduce vital services. | |
| Over the weekend, Merseyside Police repeated advice for victims of domestic abuse during the coronavirus lockdown after officers were called to a home in Rainhill, Merseyside, just before 11pm on Saturday following reports of an argument involving the two occupants. | |
| A force spokesman said a 44-year-old woman had been stabbed in the face twice, causing injuries above her left eyebrow, and was taken to hospital for treatment. She was later released. A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding.Two children are being looked after by family members following the incident, police said. | |
| Refuge said if anyone is worried about a loved one, or about isolating with a perpetrator, they can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or contact the Helpline via Refuge’s contact form at http://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk. | |
| On park closures, Jenrick told Today that he had spoken to councils to warn them to be “very judicious” in only closing parks if they cannot ensure social distancing can be maintained in them. | |
| Jenrick, who is responsible for local authorities, said he has “a lot of sympathy” with those who argue that public confidence could be lost by people in power with ample space telling those in crowded homes they cannot use parks or exercise outside. He said: | |
| The former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake said it would be “sensible” for Johnson to “step back” if he is not well enough to carry out his role for now. | |
| He told the Today programme: | |
| Interviewed on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Jenrick said the prime minister will stay in hospital for “as long as he needs to”. But he added: “I’ve heard that he’s doing well.” | |
| Asked if Johnson could spend another night in hospital, Jenrick said the prime minister will “take the advice of doctors.” | |
| He pointed out again that Raab will chair today’s government meeting on coronavirus. But he again insisted Johnson was still in charge of the government. | |
| Earlier, the Conservative MP, Tobias Ellwood, suggested Raab would be running day-to-day operations. | |
| Jenrick also played down speculation that the government planned to close parks or ban outside exercise, but he urged the public to stick to the existing physical distancing rules. | Jenrick also played down speculation that the government planned to close parks or ban outside exercise, but he urged the public to stick to the existing physical distancing rules. |
| He said he “disappointed” that some parks have been so busy that councils have been forced to close them. | He said he “disappointed” that some parks have been so busy that councils have been forced to close them. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Asked if the government was considering following France in making the public fill out forms before they could leave their homes, Jenrick said: | Asked if the government was considering following France in making the public fill out forms before they could leave their homes, Jenrick said: |
| The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has insisted that Johnson will continue to lead the government while in hospital. | The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has insisted that Johnson will continue to lead the government while in hospital. |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, said the prime minister “must be frustrated” by his condition. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, said the prime minister “must be frustrated” by his condition. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Asked how practical it is for Johnson to run a government from hospital, Jenrick said: | Asked how practical it is for Johnson to run a government from hospital, Jenrick said: |
| Most people recover from Covid-19 within a week and cannot even be certain they had it, as they probably won’t be tested. The advice is to stay home, rest and take paracetamol. In 80% of cases, that is the end of it. | Most people recover from Covid-19 within a week and cannot even be certain they had it, as they probably won’t be tested. The advice is to stay home, rest and take paracetamol. In 80% of cases, that is the end of it. |
| But NHS advice is that if the symptoms – mainly the dry cough, temperature and fatigue – have not gone by the end of a week, or they get worse, people should seek medical help. | But NHS advice is that if the symptoms – mainly the dry cough, temperature and fatigue – have not gone by the end of a week, or they get worse, people should seek medical help. |
| Unlike Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who revealed he had Covid-19 on the same day as the prime minister, Boris Johnson has not recovered within the first week. He is said to have been admitted to hospital for tests, which may include scans of his lungs to check for pneumonia, as well as blood tests. He had a diagnostic test for Covid-19, so doctors will be looking for progression of the disease and to establish that he has not entered the second phase, where the immune system goes into overdrive. | Unlike Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who revealed he had Covid-19 on the same day as the prime minister, Boris Johnson has not recovered within the first week. He is said to have been admitted to hospital for tests, which may include scans of his lungs to check for pneumonia, as well as blood tests. He had a diagnostic test for Covid-19, so doctors will be looking for progression of the disease and to establish that he has not entered the second phase, where the immune system goes into overdrive. |
| Given the increasing pressure on hospitals at the moment, it is unlikely he will have been admitted unless doctors have real concerns. Minor tests could be carried out in Downing Street. | Given the increasing pressure on hospitals at the moment, it is unlikely he will have been admitted unless doctors have real concerns. Minor tests could be carried out in Downing Street. |
| The new shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, said it is “critical” that ministers start working on a way out of the economic shutdown immediately. | The new shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds, said it is “critical” that ministers start working on a way out of the economic shutdown immediately. |
| Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she said: | Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she said: |
| Dodds said she would be speaking to her counterpart in government, Rishi Sunak, later in the day as she stressed the importance of working with the Tories during the crisis. | Dodds said she would be speaking to her counterpart in government, Rishi Sunak, later in the day as she stressed the importance of working with the Tories during the crisis. |
| Welcome to an earlier than usual edition our UK coronavirus live blog following the prime minister’s admission to hospital as he is still suffers symptoms of the virus. | Welcome to an earlier than usual edition our UK coronavirus live blog following the prime minister’s admission to hospital as he is still suffers symptoms of the virus. |
| Downing Street said Boris Johnson will stay for “as long as needed” in the unnamed London NHS hospital where he was taken as a “precautionary step” on the advice of his doctor. Johnson remains “in charge of the government” and in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials despite his hospital admission, a spokesman said. | Downing Street said Boris Johnson will stay for “as long as needed” in the unnamed London NHS hospital where he was taken as a “precautionary step” on the advice of his doctor. Johnson remains “in charge of the government” and in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials despite his hospital admission, a spokesman said. |
| The news came just an hour after the Queen delivered a message of hope to the nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “we will overcome it” although we “may have more still to endure”.Johnson, 55, tested positive for the virus 10 days ago, and has been in self-isolation inside his Downing Street flat since. | The news came just an hour after the Queen delivered a message of hope to the nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “we will overcome it” although we “may have more still to endure”.Johnson, 55, tested positive for the virus 10 days ago, and has been in self-isolation inside his Downing Street flat since. |
| A Number 10 spokeswoman said: | A Number 10 spokeswoman said: |
| US President Donald Trump was among the well-wishers, starting Sunday night’s White House press briefing by saying Johnson was “a great friend of mine” and adding: “I’m sure he is going to be fine, he’s a strong man, a strong person.” | US President Donald Trump was among the well-wishers, starting Sunday night’s White House press briefing by saying Johnson was “a great friend of mine” and adding: “I’m sure he is going to be fine, he’s a strong man, a strong person.” |
| Meanwhile: | Meanwhile: |
| Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned following criticism for visiting her second home and not adhering to social distancing advice. | Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned following criticism for visiting her second home and not adhering to social distancing advice. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said the number of reported coronavirus-related hospital deaths had risen by 621 to 4,934 as of 5pm on Saturday, up from 4,313 the day before. | The Department of Health and Social Care said the number of reported coronavirus-related hospital deaths had risen by 621 to 4,934 as of 5pm on Saturday, up from 4,313 the day before. |
| Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow confirmed Lynsay Coventry, 54, who died on Thursday, was the first serving midwife to die after testing positive for the virus. | Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow confirmed Lynsay Coventry, 54, who died on Thursday, was the first serving midwife to die after testing positive for the virus. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned outdoor exercise could be banned if people continued to flout the social distancing rules. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned outdoor exercise could be banned if people continued to flout the social distancing rules. |