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British Prime Minister is responding well to treatment as he enters his third day in intensive care with the novel coronavirus.
In an update, Downing Street said Johnson remains critically stable at London's St. Thomas' hospital and is in "good spirits" after he was moved to an intensive care unit on Monday when his condition worsened.
"The PM is receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without assistance," the statement added, similar to one previously released by Downing Street.
The government confirmed that Johnson is not working at this time but has the ability to contact those that he needs to.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is being asked to step in for Johnson where necessary, previously assured that the prime minister is receiving the "very best care from the excellent medical team" at St. Thomas' hospital.
"I'm confident he'll pull through because if there's one thing I know about this Prime Minister, he's a fighter and he'll be back at the helm leading us through this crisis in short order," Raab added.
The update arrives as members of the British public have begun receiving letters from Johnson on what they should be doing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
"I understand completely the difficulties this disruption has caused to your lives, businesses and jobs," Johnson wrote. "But the action we have taken is absolutely necessary, for one very simple reason.
"If too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to cope. This will cost lives. We must slow the spread of the disease, and reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment in order to save as many lives as possible.
"That is why we are giving one simple instruction—you must stay at home."
Johnson also admitted to the public "things will get worse before they get better" but that the government is making the right preparations for such an event.
"The more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal," he said.
Johnson announced a series of restrictions in the U.K. on March 23, placing a ban on gatherings of more than two people and initiating the closure of all non-essential business.
Johnson said a relaxation of the rules would be considered on April 13, but the decision may be delayed.
"We need to start seeing the numbers coming down and that's when you're in the negative," health minister Edward Argar told BBC Breakfast. "That's when you have a sense when that's sustained over a period of time, that you can see it coming out of that. We're not there yet and I don't exactly know when we will be."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thinks the U.K. is "nowhere near" ready to lift the lockdown.
"We think the peak—which is the worst part of the virus—is still probably a week and a half away," he told BBC Radio 4's Today program.
There are more than 55,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.K., with 6,171 deaths according to Johns Hopkins University. A total of 332 people have managed to recover from the virus.
This map, provided by Statista, shows the spread of coronavirus cases across the U.S. as of April 8.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more