*Britain’s Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson in March before he was infected by the virus
According to reports from the United Kingdom, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson began the fourth day in intensive care but “improving” in his battle with the ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19). It is also understood that his government is preparing to extend a nationwide lockdown introduced last month to curb the spread of the disease.
So far, Johnson is the most high-profile world leader to become infected with COVID-19 and his transfer to intensive care on Monday is unprecedented for a prime minister during a national emergency in modern times. However, the Culture Secretary, Mr. Oliver Dowden told BBC News that, “He’s stable, improving, sat up and engaged with medical staff. I think things are getting better for him.”
The disease has struck at the heart of the British government, infected more than 60,000 people nationwide and killed over 7,000, with another record daily death toll of 938 reported on Wednesday. Senior ministers were set to discuss at Thursday’s daily coronavirus response meeting the process for extending the stringent social distancing measures rolled out on March 23.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Johnson, will lead the so-called “war cabinet”, as he has done since Monday. However, ministers have made it clear no announcement on the status of the lockdown — rolled out for an initial three weeks — would be made until that period has ended on Monday, at the earliest. The Sun newspaper reported the government’s top scientific advisers will not meet until Friday to assess the situation.
“You shouldn’t expect a decision today on restrictions,” Dowden said, stressing the actual review would happen next week. “Right now it’s just beginning to work,” he said of the lockdown, noting new COVID-19 cases in Britain were not “accelerating.” When we have the opportunity to change it, we will, but that is not the moment now.”
