Coronavirus: Boris Johnson able to do 'short walks' in hospital

The British leader may take weeks to fully recover from the disease

Stanley Johnson, father of Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leaves the Millbank broadcast studios near the Houses of Parliament in central London. AFP / Tolga AKMEN

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s condition is improving as he is treated in hospital for Covid-19.

He was admitted to hospital at the weekend and then moved to an intensive care for three days until Thursday, when he was moved back to a ward.

A No 10 spokesman said: “The prime minister has been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery.

“He has spoken to his doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care he has received.

“His thoughts are with those affected by this terrible disease.”

A father's relief

Mr Johnson’s father, Stanley, has said he feels a huge sense of “relief” and urged his son to rest up after he left intensive care on Thursday after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Stanley Johnson said his family were “amazingly grateful” for the National Health Service and all the support for his son.

Downing Street said on Thursday that the prime minister had been moved from intensive care back to the ward at London’s St Thomas’ hospital “where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery”.

He was rushed to hospital on Sunday after testing positive for coronavirus last month, but his symptoms quickly deteriorated and he had to spend three days in intensive care. After receiving oxygen treatment, his condition improved on Wednesday when he was said to be “sitting up in bed”.

Stanley Johnson said that his son’s illness highlighted the seriousness of the Covid-19 crisis and spoke of his “relief” at the news he was recovering.

"This whole event of Boris going into intensive care and now coming out, it has actually served an amazing purpose in the sense it's got the whole country to realise this is a serious event," he told the BBC.

"To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now.

"He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don't think you can say he is out of the woods now.”

The prime minister may take weeks to recover. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is acting as a stand in leader until Boris Johnson is well enough to return to work.

"He has to take time. I 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,” said his father.