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| Coronavirus: PM 'clearly on the mend,' says Hancock | Coronavirus: PM 'clearly on the mend,' says Hancock |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson is "on the mend" after contracting coronavirus but his return to work is a matter for his doctors, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. | Boris Johnson is "on the mend" after contracting coronavirus but his return to work is a matter for his doctors, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. |
| This week Mr Johnson has spoken to the Queen and US President Donald Trump from Chequers, the PM's country house. | This week Mr Johnson has spoken to the Queen and US President Donald Trump from Chequers, the PM's country house. |
| President Trump described the prime minister as sounding "ready to go". | President Trump described the prime minister as sounding "ready to go". |
| However, he is said not to be undertaking official work and No 10 played down reports that he could return to work on Monday. | However, he is said not to be undertaking official work and No 10 played down reports that he could return to work on Monday. |
| Mr Johnson tested positive for the virus on 27 March and was later admitted to hospital, spending three nights in intensive care. | Mr Johnson tested positive for the virus on 27 March and was later admitted to hospital, spending three nights in intensive care. |
| Speaking after he had been discharged, he said "it could have gone either way" and thanked the NHS staff who had cared for him. | Speaking after he had been discharged, he said "it could have gone either way" and thanked the NHS staff who had cared for him. |
| Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been deputising for the prime minister while he recuperates. | Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been deputising for the prime minister while he recuperates. |
| Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hancock said Mr Johnson was "cheerful and ebullient" but added he "has to be better" before returning to work. | Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hancock said Mr Johnson was "cheerful and ebullient" but added he "has to be better" before returning to work. |
| And a No 10 spokesman, responding to press reports he will be back at work next week, said: "The PM will follow his doctor's advice and it is unhelpful to speculate at this stage." | |
| He added that the prime minister was receiving updates from Downing Street and had been having discussions with colleagues including Mr Raab and Mr Hancock. | |
| He said he is not currently working through his red boxes, which are the briefcases containing government documents such as briefings. | |
| Asked about the PM's health at a White House briefing on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was "actually surprised" at how "incredible" the PM sounded during their phone call. | Asked about the PM's health at a White House briefing on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was "actually surprised" at how "incredible" the PM sounded during their phone call. |
| "He was ready to go. I'm very surprised to tell you this. He's like the old Boris - tremendous energy, tremendous drive," the president said. | "He was ready to go. I'm very surprised to tell you this. He's like the old Boris - tremendous energy, tremendous drive," the president said. |
| Cummings 'collapsed' | Cummings 'collapsed' |
| The prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings has returned to work in Downing Street, after recovering from the disease. | The prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings has returned to work in Downing Street, after recovering from the disease. |
| Mr Cummings' wife, journalist Mary Wakefield, has described how he collapsed and then couldn't get out of bed for ten days. | Mr Cummings' wife, journalist Mary Wakefield, has described how he collapsed and then couldn't get out of bed for ten days. |
| Ms Wakefield said Mr Cummings had rushed home to look after her when she began showing signs of the virus. | Ms Wakefield said Mr Cummings had rushed home to look after her when she began showing signs of the virus. |
| "He's an extremely kind man, whatever people assume to the contrary," she wrote in the The Spectator. | "He's an extremely kind man, whatever people assume to the contrary," she wrote in the The Spectator. |
| "But 24 hours later, he said 'I feel weird' and collapsed." | "But 24 hours later, he said 'I feel weird' and collapsed." |
| She said he was more badly affected by the disease than her, adding: "He lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. | She said he was more badly affected by the disease than her, adding: "He lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. |
| "He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way." | "He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way." |
| Social distancing | Social distancing |
| She also described how their four-year-old son Cedd "administered Ribena with the grim insistence of a Broadmoor nurse" to his father. | She also described how their four-year-old son Cedd "administered Ribena with the grim insistence of a Broadmoor nurse" to his father. |
| Mr Cummings was photographed walking along Downing Street on Friday morning, alongside his assistant Cleo Watson. | Mr Cummings was photographed walking along Downing Street on Friday morning, alongside his assistant Cleo Watson. |
| Asked why Mr Cummings was not observing the two metre social distancing rule, the prime minister's official spokesman said Downing Street staff endeavoured to follow the guidance wherever possible. | Asked why Mr Cummings was not observing the two metre social distancing rule, the prime minister's official spokesman said Downing Street staff endeavoured to follow the guidance wherever possible. |
| "He is back in Number 10 and working today," the spokesman said. | "He is back in Number 10 and working today," the spokesman said. |
| "Everybody in Number 10 continues to practise social distancing, which means staying two metres apart wherever possible". | "Everybody in Number 10 continues to practise social distancing, which means staying two metres apart wherever possible". |