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| Boris Johnson is back after recovering from covid-19 | Boris Johnson is back after recovering from covid-19 |
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| The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free. For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our daily Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read. | The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free. For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our daily Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read. |
| LONDON — Boris Johnson, perhaps the world's most famous coronavirus patient, was back at work Monday — after spending the worst of Britain's epidemic sidelined, first in self-isolation, then struggling to breathe in the hospital, and later in recovery in the countryside. | LONDON — Boris Johnson, perhaps the world's most famous coronavirus patient, was back at work Monday — after spending the worst of Britain's epidemic sidelined, first in self-isolation, then struggling to breathe in the hospital, and later in recovery in the countryside. |
| Johnson’s weeks of illness rattled the country, and even those who disliked him fervently cheered for his return. Though the government carried on without him, it has faced tough questions about why the lockdown didn’t come sooner, and why it has struggled to deploy testing and to provide protective equipment for front-line health workers. | |
| The prime minister appeared outside 10 Downing Street on Monday morning and provided a status update to the nation, deploying the lively language he is known for and has been missing from government briefings of late. | The prime minister appeared outside 10 Downing Street on Monday morning and provided a status update to the nation, deploying the lively language he is known for and has been missing from government briefings of late. |
| “If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger — which I can tell you from personal experience, it is — then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor,” he said, standing at a lectern in a blue suit and red tie, with his yellow mop of hair as artfully askew as ever. | “If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger — which I can tell you from personal experience, it is — then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor,” he said, standing at a lectern in a blue suit and red tie, with his yellow mop of hair as artfully askew as ever. |
| But he urged Britons not to lose patience after six weeks of lockdown, saying this was still a “moment of maximum risk.” | But he urged Britons not to lose patience after six weeks of lockdown, saying this was still a “moment of maximum risk.” |
| While many countries around the world begin to lift strict stay-at-home measures and business closings, as infections, hospital admissions and deaths appear to be declining in many places, Johnson signaled that Britain was not ready to ease up. | While many countries around the world begin to lift strict stay-at-home measures and business closings, as infections, hospital admissions and deaths appear to be declining in many places, Johnson signaled that Britain was not ready to ease up. |
| “I know it’s tough, and I want to get this economy moving as fast as I can, but I refuse to throw away the efforts and sacrifice of the British people,” he said. | “I know it’s tough, and I want to get this economy moving as fast as I can, but I refuse to throw away the efforts and sacrifice of the British people,” he said. |
| Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. | Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. |
| Although aides and colleagues stressed that Johnson was “in good spirits” during his illness, the prime minister has conceded he could have been one of the dead. | Although aides and colleagues stressed that Johnson was “in good spirits” during his illness, the prime minister has conceded he could have been one of the dead. |
| Upon his release from the hospital, Johnson said it “could have gone either way” while he was in intensive care. His aides say he was given “oxygen therapy” but never put on a mechanical ventilator. | Upon his release from the hospital, Johnson said it “could have gone either way” while he was in intensive care. His aides say he was given “oxygen therapy” but never put on a mechanical ventilator. |
| Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who served as leader of the country for the past three weeks, said Sunday that his thoughts had always been for Johnson and his family, “particularly when we knew it was touch and go.” | Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who served as leader of the country for the past three weeks, said Sunday that his thoughts had always been for Johnson and his family, “particularly when we knew it was touch and go.” |
| The prime minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, told broadcasters, that his son “almost took one for the team.” | The prime minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, told broadcasters, that his son “almost took one for the team.” |
| In his brief speech on Monday, Johnson thanked the ministers who stood in while he was away, as well as the people for their “sheer grit and guts.” | In his brief speech on Monday, Johnson thanked the ministers who stood in while he was away, as well as the people for their “sheer grit and guts.” |
| Johnson began, “I am sorry I have been away from my desk for much longer than I would have liked.” | Johnson began, “I am sorry I have been away from my desk for much longer than I would have liked.” |
| He has been absent for most of the six weeks of lockdown he ordered on March 23. | He has been absent for most of the six weeks of lockdown he ordered on March 23. |
| Monday was the first time Britons had seen their prime minister in public since March 26, when he appeared on the steps of 10 Downing Street to applaud National Health Service workers. | Monday was the first time Britons had seen their prime minister in public since March 26, when he appeared on the steps of 10 Downing Street to applaud National Health Service workers. |
| In that last public appearance, he was already sick and suffering from a persistent cough and high temperature. The next day, his official spokesman revealed that Johnson had tested positive for the coronavirus. | In that last public appearance, he was already sick and suffering from a persistent cough and high temperature. The next day, his official spokesman revealed that Johnson had tested positive for the coronavirus. |
| For 10 days, as Johnson isolated himself in the prime minister’s residence and had his meals left on a tray at the door, his aides insisted he was continuing to lead the country’s response to the virus via telephone call and videoconference. During that time, Johnson posted several short videos, in which he looked drained and pale. | For 10 days, as Johnson isolated himself in the prime minister’s residence and had his meals left on a tray at the door, his aides insisted he was continuing to lead the country’s response to the virus via telephone call and videoconference. During that time, Johnson posted several short videos, in which he looked drained and pale. |
| When he went into the hospital on April 5, there had been 555 coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England and Wales, and fewer than 100 in Northern Ireland and Scotland. By the time Johnson returned to his leadership role on Monday, more than 21,000 people had died of the virus — meaning he was out-of-commission for more than 97 percent of the deaths. | When he went into the hospital on April 5, there had been 555 coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England and Wales, and fewer than 100 in Northern Ireland and Scotland. By the time Johnson returned to his leadership role on Monday, more than 21,000 people had died of the virus — meaning he was out-of-commission for more than 97 percent of the deaths. |
| While Johnson was recovering, a Sunday Times article, headlined “38 days when Britain sleepwalked into disaster,” criticized his administration for being slow to act. | While Johnson was recovering, a Sunday Times article, headlined “38 days when Britain sleepwalked into disaster,” criticized his administration for being slow to act. |
| The article said that even before Johnson became sick, he had missed five of the government’s emergency “COBRA” crisis meetings on the novel coronavirus. | The article said that even before Johnson became sick, he had missed five of the government’s emergency “COBRA” crisis meetings on the novel coronavirus. |
| In January, the article said, Johnson was focused on Brexit. In February, he was distracted by his personal life. In mid-February, Johnson agreed to a divorce settlement with Marina Wheeler, with whom he has four children. At the end of the month, Johnson and his 32-year-old partner, Carrie Symonds, announced their engagement and said they are expecting a baby in early summer. | In January, the article said, Johnson was focused on Brexit. In February, he was distracted by his personal life. In mid-February, Johnson agreed to a divorce settlement with Marina Wheeler, with whom he has four children. At the end of the month, Johnson and his 32-year-old partner, Carrie Symonds, announced their engagement and said they are expecting a baby in early summer. |
| In mid-February, Johnson was criticized for going on a “working holiday” with Symonds to Chevening, a grace-and-favor mansion, instead of attending to the threat of the coronavirus or visiting flood-hit communities in Yorkshire and Wales. | In mid-February, Johnson was criticized for going on a “working holiday” with Symonds to Chevening, a grace-and-favor mansion, instead of attending to the threat of the coronavirus or visiting flood-hit communities in Yorkshire and Wales. |
| “WhereIsBoris” trended on social media in the United Kingdom. Jeremy Corbyn, who was then leader of the opposition Labour Party, labeled Johnson a “part-time” prime minister. | “WhereIsBoris” trended on social media in the United Kingdom. Jeremy Corbyn, who was then leader of the opposition Labour Party, labeled Johnson a “part-time” prime minister. |
| While Johnson has been sidelined by illness, British businesses and workers have been flogged. Economists estimate that the coronavirus lockdown might be sapping almost $3 billion a day out of the British economy. | While Johnson has been sidelined by illness, British businesses and workers have been flogged. Economists estimate that the coronavirus lockdown might be sapping almost $3 billion a day out of the British economy. |
| There is mounting pressure to begin to reopen the country after its lockdown. | There is mounting pressure to begin to reopen the country after its lockdown. |
| On Monday, Johnson said, “I refuse to throw away all the effort and sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS.” | On Monday, Johnson said, “I refuse to throw away all the effort and sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS.” |
| A second spike would, he said, be an economic “disaster.” | A second spike would, he said, be an economic “disaster.” |
| “I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict, and in spite of all the suffering we have so nearly succeeded.” | “I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict, and in spite of all the suffering we have so nearly succeeded.” |
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