Coronavirus: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to intensive care
In an extremely concerning news, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been shifted to intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital, London. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit," a spokesperson said. He was admitted to the hospital on Sunday with persistent symptoms of coronavirus.
Was tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago
Johnson, 55, had tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago. His symptoms included a high temperature and a cough. Notably, he has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize "where necessary," BBC reports.
Some reports said UK wasn't truthful about Johnson's condition
Meanwhile, earlier in the day The Guardian reported that Johnson was more sick than what his officials were letting on and that doctors were worried about his breathing. However, his office denied these claims. When senior politician Matt Hancock was asked about the PM's health on Sunday, he had replied that the latter was in "good spirits".
On Monday, Johnson himself tweeted he was "in good spirits"
Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020
The situation is grim in the UK
On a related note, Prince Charles of the British Royal Family had also tested positive for the viral disease and chose to self-isolate, last month. In fact, British Health Minister Matt Hancock has also tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, Britain has a total of 51,608 active coronavirus cases and 5,373 people have died. The country is, evidently, following the trajectory of other European nations.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 was first reported in China's Wuhan city in December 2019. The disease is caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus attacks a host's respiratory system triggering symptoms such as fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it may cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure, or death. COVID-19 has spread to over 170 countries, killing 65,000 and sickening 12 lakh.
