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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson 'still in charge' despite hospital admission Coronavirus: Boris Johnson 'still in charge' despite hospital admission
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "still very much in charge of the government" despite spending the night in hospital with coronavirus, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "still very much in charge of the government" despite spending the night in hospital with coronavirus, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
The PM was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with "persistent symptoms" - including a temperature - for a series of routine tests.The PM was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with "persistent symptoms" - including a temperature - for a series of routine tests.
It is said to be a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor.It is said to be a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor.
Mr Johnson, 55, tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago.Mr Johnson, 55, tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair Monday morning's coronavirus meeting in his place, Mr Jenrick said.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair Monday morning's coronavirus meeting in his place, Mr Jenrick said.
Last month, the prime minister's spokesman said if Mr Johnson was unwell and unable to work, Mr Raab, as the first secretary of state, would stand in.Last month, the prime minister's spokesman said if Mr Johnson was unwell and unable to work, Mr Raab, as the first secretary of state, would stand in.
Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "We hope that as a result of these tests [the prime minister] will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible.Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "We hope that as a result of these tests [the prime minister] will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible.
"He's been working extremely hard leading the government and being constantly updated. That's going to continue.""He's been working extremely hard leading the government and being constantly updated. That's going to continue."
"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," he added."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," he added.
US President Donald Trump is among those who has sent his wishes to Mr Johnson.US President Donald Trump is among those who has sent his wishes to Mr Johnson.
"All Americans are praying for him. He's a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader," Mr Trump said, adding that he was sure the prime minister would be fine because he is "a strong person"."All Americans are praying for him. He's a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader," Mr Trump said, adding that he was sure the prime minister would be fine because he is "a strong person".
And Labour leader Keir Starmer said he hoped the prime minister had a "speedy recovery".And Labour leader Keir Starmer said he hoped the prime minister had a "speedy recovery".
Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who herself tested positive for coronavirus last month, said many of those with the virus would be "felled" by fatigue and a high temperature and use isolation to sleep and recover.Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who herself tested positive for coronavirus last month, said many of those with the virus would be "felled" by fatigue and a high temperature and use isolation to sleep and recover.
"Boris has risked his health and worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus," she said in a tweet."Boris has risked his health and worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus," she said in a tweet.
Coronavirus is straining the highest levels of government Although Downing Street insist the PM is still in charge, if the medics insist he needs to rest and recuperate then he may well have to take a step back for a period of time.
The prime minister, alongside the Queen, personifies the country's public response to this pandemic. In the UK we no longer have a deputy prime minister - the last one was Nick Clegg under David Cameron.
And Boris Johnson is continuing to personally experience the unpleasant reality of the virus. Technically, Dominic Raab - as first secretary of state - would be expected to step up.
Downing Street officials are adamant Mr Johnson remains in charge of the government and is in contact with ministerial colleagues and civil servants. His position as foreign secretary, however, does not put him at the centre of the fight against coronavirus.
But the undeniable reality is there is nothing conventional, nothing normal about this - however routine the tests are that the prime minister is receiving. It would seem likely therefore that the two figures who would be expected to take a key role would be Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
The coronavirus has repeatedly proven its capacity to turn the far-fetched into reality, over and over again. Both men have been frequent representatives of the government at the daily news conferences.
Advisers, officials and ministerial colleagues have all been forced to self-isolate. Fortunately, however, many of the key decisions - namely how long the lockdown should continue and what the exit strategy should be - still appear some way off.
Covid-19, the illness which the virus causes, is crippling the economy, robbing us of our usual liberties - and now it is straining the personal capacity of those at the highest level of government to respond to it. At the moment the focus is on "flattening the curve" and reducing the level of infections and admissions to hospital.
The day-to-day decisions are therefore likely to depend much more on the advice of the scientists and officials.
The really big decisions are some way off - when it is hoped the prime minister will have recovered.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and broadcaster, told the BBC that Mr Johnson would be likely to have his chest X-rayed and his lungs scanned, particularly if he had been struggling for breath.Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and broadcaster, told the BBC that Mr Johnson would be likely to have his chest X-rayed and his lungs scanned, particularly if he had been struggling for breath.
She said he is also likely to have an electrocardiogram to check his heart's function, as well as tests on his oxygen levels, white blood cell count, and liver and kidney function before he is released from hospital.She said he is also likely to have an electrocardiogram to check his heart's function, as well as tests on his oxygen levels, white blood cell count, and liver and kidney function before he is released from hospital.
Mr Johnson has worked from home since it was announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus on 27 March.Mr Johnson has worked from home since it was announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus on 27 March.
He was last seen in public applauding the NHS and other key workers from his flat in Downing Street on Thursday evening, and chaired a coronavirus meeting remotely on Friday morning.He was last seen in public applauding the NHS and other key workers from his flat in Downing Street on Thursday evening, and chaired a coronavirus meeting remotely on Friday morning.
Also on Friday, the prime minister posted a Twitter video in which said he was still displaying minor symptoms.Also on Friday, the prime minister posted a Twitter video in which said he was still displaying minor symptoms.
"I still have a temperature. So in accordance with government advice I must continue my self isolation until that symptom itself goes," he said."I still have a temperature. So in accordance with government advice I must continue my self isolation until that symptom itself goes," he said.
"But we're working clearly the whole time on our programme to beat the virus.""But we're working clearly the whole time on our programme to beat the virus."
On Saturday, his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds tweeted that she had spent a week in bed with the main symptoms.On Saturday, his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds tweeted that she had spent a week in bed with the main symptoms.
She said she had not been tested for the virus.She said she had not been tested for the virus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock had also tested positive for the virus and returned from self-isolation on Thursday to host the daily Downing Street news conference.Health Secretary Matt Hancock had also tested positive for the virus and returned from self-isolation on Thursday to host the daily Downing Street news conference.
The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, has also had to self-isolate after showing symptoms.The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, has also had to self-isolate after showing symptoms.
The news of Mr Johnson's admission to hospital came shortly after the Queen delivered a rallying message to the nation, saying the UK "will succeed" in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.The news of Mr Johnson's admission to hospital came shortly after the Queen delivered a rallying message to the nation, saying the UK "will succeed" in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In a rare speech, the monarch thanked people for following government rules to stay at home and praised those "coming together to help others".In a rare speech, the monarch thanked people for following government rules to stay at home and praised those "coming together to help others".
In other developments:In other developments:
On Sunday the Department of Health said 621 more people had died in hospital in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total death toll to 4,934.On Sunday the Department of Health said 621 more people had died in hospital in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total death toll to 4,934.
As of 09:00 BST on Sunday, 47,806 people had tested positive for coronavirus, the department said.As of 09:00 BST on Sunday, 47,806 people had tested positive for coronavirus, the department said.
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