Johnson was admitted to hospital not because his condition worsened, but because it had not improved

By BLOOMBERG / Pic AFP

LONDON • British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson was in hospital yesterday undergoing tests after suffering “persistent” symptoms of coronavirus for 10 days, but colleagues insisted he remains in charge of the government.

The Conservative leader announced on March 27 that he had tested positive for Covid-19, and has been self-isolating in his flat above Downing Street ever since.

On Sunday evening, on the advice of his doctor, the 55-year-old was admitted to hospital for tests in what his office said were a “precautionary step”.

He still has a high temperature among other symptoms, officials said. “Today, he’s in hospital having the tests, but he will continue to be kept informed as to what’s happening and to be in charge of the government,” his Housing Minister Robert Jenrick told BBC television.

Britain is in the middle of a serious coronavirus outbreak, with almost 50,000 confirmed hospital cases and nearly 5,000 deaths (at press time) so far.

Johnson is the most high-profile world leader to contract the virus, but his Health Minister Matt Hancock and, the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, have both been infected, although they have since recovered.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been nominated to take over temporarily if the PM is incapacitated, was due to chair the government’s daily coronavirus meeting yesterday morning in Johnson’s place.

Jenrick said the PM had been working “phenomenally hard” during the crisis, which has seen the government impose unprecedented peacetime restrictions on public movement to try to stop the virus spreading.

“I’m sure this is very frustrating for him, somebody like Boris who wants to be hands-on running the government from the front,” he said. “But nonetheless, he is still very much in charge of the government.”

There are questions, however, as to whether Johnson, who has struggled with his weight but is otherwise not known to have any underlying health issues, should have eased his workload while he was ill.

Junior Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who also had coronavirus but has recovered, added: “Many with #COVID19 are felled by fatigue/temperature and use isolation to sleep and recover.

“Boris has risked his health and worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus.”

Sarah Vine, a newspaper columnist and wife of senior Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, added: “Boris has worked non-stop throughout his illness — and now we see the result.”

US President Donald Trump said he was “hopeful and sure” Johnson would recover, calling the PM “a friend of mine” and a “great leader”.

Johnson’s pregnant partner, Carrie Symonds, moved out of Downing Street after some staff fell ill. But she said on Saturday she had just spent a week in bed with symptoms, although she has not been tested.

Officials said Johnson was admitted to hospital not because his condition worsened, but because it had not improved. — Bloomberg