How sick is Boris Johnson? Here's what we know about his current condition.

It has been 12 days now since the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson tested positive to COVID-19.

In the past couple of days, he has been moved to an intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

But there have been conflicting reports on exactly how sick the UK PM is, especially considering that just days before he entered hospital, Johnson posted a video message with the news that he was “feeling better”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Another quick update from me on our campaign against coronavirus. You are saving lives by staying at home, so I urge you to stick with it this weekend, even if we do have some fine weather. #StayHomeSaveLives

A post shared by Boris Johnson (@borisjohnsonuk) on Apr 3, 2020 at 4:54am PDT

Here’s what we know about the British Prime Minister’s current condition.

How sick is Boris Johnson?

On Sunday evening, news broke that the Prime Minister was taken to hospital due to a persistent high temperature and cough. His condition deteriorated on Monday, it was announced, and he was rushed into an intensive care unit.

A spokesperson for the PM said he was transported to the ICU “as a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery”.

Boris Johnson has since spent two nights in the Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19 symptoms.

He is receiving oxygen support for COVID-19 complications, however his office has confirmed that he was not put on a ventilator.

“The Prime Minister is in a stable condition, he’s comfortable and in good spirits,” UK health minister Edward Argar said on Wednesday. “He has in the past had some oxygen but he’s not on ventilation.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the PM, said on Tuesday: “I’m confident he’ll pull through, because if there’s one thing I know about this Prime Minister, he’s a fighter. And he’ll be back at the helm, leading us through this crisis in short order.”

But what are health experts saying about the fact he has been taken to the ICU?

Well, Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging at University College London, told Reuters: "There is no doubt this turn of events means Boris Johnson is extremely sick."

Linda Bauld, a professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said: "The admission of the Prime Minister to intensive care is of huge concern and illustrates just how indiscriminate this virus is.

"Anyone anywhere, including the most privileged in our society, can be affected and can become seriously ill.

"It is imperative now, more than ever that the rest of us comply with government guidelines to stay at home and not put others at risk."

How old is Boris Johnson?

Boris Johnson is 55 years old. He'll turn 56 on June 19.

Professor Hill commented on the danger of coronavirus to his age group, saying: "One of the features of COVID-19 in all countries seems to be that many more men become seriously ill than women – especially in the over 40 age group.

"Also we know that people under about 60 seem to have a higher chance of making a recovery from critical illness with COVID-19 than older people."

Here's a graph demonstrating how coronavirus has infected and affected different age groups.

How is Boris Johnson's pregnant fiancé?

Carrie Symonds, the pregnant fiancé of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said she spent the past week in bed with symptoms of coronavirus. After seven days of rest, she is now reportedly on the mend.

"I've spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus. I haven't needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I'm on the mend," Symonds said on Twitter.

I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus. I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend.

— Carrie Symonds (@carriesymonds) April 4, 2020

"Being pregnant with COVID-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be very reassuring."

Johnson and Symonds, 32, announced in February that they were expecting their first child together and were engaged to be married.

Johnson went into isolation at a flat in Downing Street last month after announcing that he had tested positive, though the couple normally live together.

What is the latest in the UK?

The UK remains in lockdown.

The government's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance says Britain is not seeing an acceleration in the number of cases of COVID-19 but it is too early to tell whether the coronavirus outbreak is peaking.

"There is a fairly steady increase in numbers. It's possible we are beginning to see the beginning of change, in terms of the curve flattening a little bit. We won't know that for sure for a week or so," Vallance said at a news conference on Tuesday.

"But what we're not seeing is an acceleration."

Britain's COVID-19 death toll jumped by 786 on Tuesday, taking the country's total number due to the virus to more than 6,000.

The health ministry said the total number of confirmed infections is now more than 55,000.

Read more on COVID-19:

• 'Can I have COVID-19 without knowing?' What you need to know about asymptomatic cases.
• What you need to know about COVID-19 today, Wednesday April 8.
• 'Can I visit my partner?' All your questions about the two-person gathering limit, answered.
• There are only 16 "reasonable excuses" to leave your house right now. Here's what they are.

If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.

Feature Image: Instagram. 

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