Boris Johnson has been moved out of the intensive care unit where he has been undergoing treatment for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.
A No 10 spokesman said that the Prime Minister had been returned to the ward at St Thomas’ Hospital as his condition continued to improve.
“The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery,” the spokesman said.
“He is in extremely good spirits.”
Easter Weekend Restrictions
It came as the British Government launched a publicity drive to urge people to stay at home during the bank holiday weekend, when the weather is expected to remain warm and sunny.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputising for the PM, earlier warned that it was still too soon for ministers to begin lifting the strict social distancing rules introduced last month.
“After all the sacrifices so many people have made, let’s not ruin it now,” he said at the daily Downing Street press conference.
“We mustn’t give the coronavirus a second chance to kill more people and hurt our country.”
As the #EasterWeekend approaches, you may be tempted to go outside. Anyone can get coronavirus and anyone can spread it. You must stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives: https://t.co/SkCoecbJWC#StayHomeSaveLives #StayHomeThisWeekend pic.twitter.com/hPbzYmFnoq
— NHS (@NHSuk) April 9, 2020
Meanwhile, police warned they were ready to take action against those who flout the coronavirus lockdown rules.
Downing Street offered the Government’s “full backing” to police forces seeking to enforce the restrictions over the holiday period.
But there was a rebuke for Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley after he suggested his force could mount road blocks and search shopping trolleys to check if people were going out to buy non-essential items.
Home Secretary Priti Patel told talkRADIO: “That is not appropriate, let me be clear on that. That is not the guidance.”
The warning came as the latest official figures showed the number of hospital patients in the UK who had died after testing positive for Covid-19 had risen to 7,978 as of 5pm on Wednesday – an increase of 881 on the previous day.
Mr Raab acknowledged that it was hard for people hoping to go out and be with their families over Easter, but he urged them to show restraint amid signs the measures were having an impact.
“Unfortunately right now we just can’t do those sorts of things and I am really sorry about that,” he said.
“It’s been almost three weeks and we’re starting to see the impact of the sacrifices we’ve all made.
“But the deaths are still rising and we haven’t yet reached the peak of the virus. So it’s still too early to lift the measures that we put in place.
“We must stick to the plan and we must continue to be guided by the science.”
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