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HEALTH-VIRUS-BRITAIN NEWSERIES
Boris Johnson leaves hospital with UK COVID-19 deaths set to top 10,000
LONDON, April 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Boris Johnson left hospital on
Sunday to convalesce from COVID-19 at Chequers, the country estate of
British prime ministers, officials said, a week after he was admitted
and then spent three days in intensive care.
The 55-year-old leader will not be immediately returning to work, on
the advice of his medical staff, a Downing Street spokesman said.
“The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery
at Chequers,” he said.
“He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ (Hospital) for the
brilliant care he has received.
“All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness.”
Johnson, who was admitted to the state-run central London hospital
last Sunday and spent Monday to Thursday in its intensive care unit,
had earlier voiced his gratitude to his carers there.
“I can’t thank them enough. I owe them my life,” he said in a first
public statement since being hospitalised.
The news of his continued improvement contrasted with the overall
picture across Britain, as it braces to pass the grim milestone of
10,000 hospital deaths from COVID-19.
The country is now seeing daily death tolls to match those
previously seen in Europe’s hardest-hit nations Italy and Spain, after
recording nearly 1,000 fatalities on each of the last two days.
The actual figure, amid hopes of hitting a peak, may be far higher
as the count does not include those who have died in care homes and
the community.
However, the overall latest number of British hospital deaths —
9,875 — remains well short of the totals in Italy, Spain and the
United States.
Globally, the death toll from the virus soared past 109,000 this
weekend, with more than 1.7 million reported infections.
MORE/MRU/2010hrs
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Britain’s tally of confirmed cases has climbed close to 80,000, but
that is thought to be only a fraction of the true level of infections
as testing for the virus has been limited.
– ‘Dark times’ –
Johnson is the most high-profile leader to suffer from the coronavirus.
It is unclear how quickly he will be able to return to work, with
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab currently deputising for him.
Johnson’s pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, who also suffered from
coronavirus symptoms in recent weeks, thanked his “magnificent” health
staff.
“I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop
thanking you,” she said on Twitter, adding she felt “incredibly
lucky”.
“There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart
goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their
loved ones.”
It also remains uncertain when Britain might be able to lift
stringent social distancing measures rolled out on March 23.
Implemented for an initial three weeks, the lockdown is set for a
formal review next week and is likely to remain in place until at
least the end of the month.
Queen Elizabeth II urged Britons to keep staying home, in what is
believed to be her first pre-recorded Easter address, released by
Buckingham Palace on Saturday evening.
“By keeping apart we keep others safe,” the 93-year-old monarch
said. “We know that coronavirus will not overcome us.”
Her resolute comments came a week after a rare televised address to
the nation in which she told people to unite to beat COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the government has been forced to defend its rollout of
personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff during the
pandemic.
“We are making sure we get the equipment to the front line,” senior
minister Alok Sharma said on Sunday, noting a “squeeze on supply” amid
“huge global demand for PPE”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed Saturday that 19 National
Health Service (NHS) staff had died from COVID-19.
But he said a lack of PPE was not to blame for any of the cases.
However, a senior doctor who has since died pleaded last month on
social media with Johnson for better protection against the disease.
Meanwhile, evidence is reportedly growing that the pandemic is
having a disproportionate impact on people from minority backgrounds,
who make up a large proportion of the NHS workforce. Research
suggests that more than a third of critically ill coronavirus patients
in British hospitals are black, Asian or from another ethnic minority,
according to the BBC.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2010hrs