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Father says Boris Johnson likely out of action for a while

Posted April 10, 2020 7:00 am

By JILL LAWLESS

A drawing of a rainbow with the word "Hope" by Logan age 6 is displayed in one of the windows of 10 Downing Street, London, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in hospital following his admission on Sunday with continuing coronavirus symptoms Thursday April 9, 2020. The highly contagious COVID-19 coronavirus has impacted on nations around the globe, many imposing self isolation and exercising social distancing when people move from their homes. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - British Prime minister Boris Johnson needs time to recover from the new coronavirus and is unlikely to be back at work soon, his father said Friday, as millions of Britons began an Easter holiday weekend in lockdown.

The 55-year-old U.K. leader spent three nights in the intensive care unit at St. Thomas' Hospital in London after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened. He was moved back to a regular ward on Thursday evening, and his office said he was in 'œthe early phase of his recovery.'ť

His father said the prime minister needs to 'œrest up.'ť

'œHe has to take time,'ť Stanley Johnson told the BBC. 'œI cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.'ť

Johnson was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks ago, the first world leader confirmed to have the illness, and initially was said to have mild symptoms including fever and a cough. He was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and moved the next day to the ICU, where he received oxygen but was not put on a ventilator.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the prime minister's condition, Stanley Johnson said his son 'œalmost took one for the team.'ť

Intensive care specialist Duncan Young said it is 'œalmost impossible to know'ť how long it will take Johnson to get back to full health.

'œHe has been very ill and it will take a while,'ť Young said. 'œNobody knows in terms of shortness of breath and lethargy, in scientific literature, how long it takes to recover. It particularly depends on how ill you have been.'ť

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is standing in for Johnson while he is ill

As Johnson recovered in the hospital, his government implored people not to travel to see relatives or visit second homes over the Easter holiday weekend as Britain's death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise.

Almost 8,000 people with the coronavirus have died in British hospitals, according to government figures. While the number of new confirmed cases has begun to plateau, deaths have neared the peaks seen in Italy and Spain, the two countries with the greatest number of fatalities.

On Thursday, the U.K. reported 881 new deaths. Italy recorded a high of 969 deaths on March 27 and Spain 950 deaths on April 2.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and in some cases death.

U,K. authorities say restrictions on business and public activity imposed March 23 to try to slow the spread of the virus are likely to last at least several more weeks.

'œIt's still too early to really be confident that we are turning the corner,'ť said Stephen Powis, medical director of the National Health Service in England.

Some British officials have been accused of flouting their own rules, which bar most travel outside the home except for essential shopping and exercise.

Scotland's chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, was forced to resign earlier this week after twice traveling to her second home.

And Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was criticized for traveling from London to his house in central England, then making another 40-mile (60-kilometer) journey to visit his parents.

Opposition Labour Party lawmaker Nick Thomas-Symonds said 'œit's very important for public confidence that Robert Jenrick explains himself and why exactly that journey was necessary.'ť

Jenrick said he went to his parents' house to deliver 'œessentials -including medicines'ť to his parents, who are self-isolating. Delivering medicines to vulnerable people is permitted under the U.K. lockdown rules.

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Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

A worker paints a fence built over recent days to block the view of the ambulance entrance area outside St Thomas' Hospital in central London, where British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care as his coronavirus symptoms persist, Thursday, April 9, 2020. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care with the coronavirus but is improving and sitting up in bed, a senior government minister said Wednesday, as the U.K. recorded its biggest spike in COVID-19 deaths to date. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press

Fire fighters applaud on Westminster Bridge to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, in London, Thursday, April 9, 2020. The highly contagious COVID-19 coronavirus has impacted on nations around the globe, many imposing self isolation and exercising social distancing when people move from their homes. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, left, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak cap outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in London, Thursday, April 9, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press

Firefighters applaud on Westminster Bridge to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, in London, Thursday, April 9, 2020. The highly contagious COVID-19 coronavirus has impacted on nations around the globe, many imposing self isolation and exercising social distancing when people move from their homes. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP) The Associated Press

British police officers stand guard outside St Thomas' Hospital, in London, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care as his coronavirus symptoms persist, Thursday, April 9, 2020. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care with the coronavirus but is improving and sitting up in bed, a senior government minister said Wednesday, as the U.K. recorded its biggest spike in COVID-19 deaths to date. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press

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