UK PM Johnson stays in isolation as Queen prepares to address the nation

By Elizabeth Howcroft and Kylie MacLellan

 

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds in support of the NHS during Clap for our Carers, outside 11 Downing Street in London, Britain April 2, 2020. Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/Handout via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he was remaining in isolation with mild symptoms of COVID-19, including a raised temperature, seven days after he first tested positive for the new coronavirus which causes the respiratory disease.

 

With the country nearing the end of its second week in lockdown, the UK death toll rose by nearly 700 to 3,605 and the National Health Service (NHS) said two nurses in their 30s had died of the disease.

 

Queen Elizabeth will address the nation on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said, only the fifth time she has done so other than at Christmas during her 68 years on the throne.

 

A weary-looking Johnson, sitting in a chair in an open-necked shirt, posted a video on Twitter from Downing Street.

"Although I'm feeling better and I've done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature," he said.

 

"So in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes," he added.

Johnson announced a positive test result on March 27, the first leader of a major power to do so.

 

The state-run NHS announced on Friday that two nurses, Aimee O'Rourke, 39, and Areema Nasreen, 36, had died after testing positive for COVID-19.

 

England's chief nurse Ruth May made an impassioned plea to the public to stay at home over the coming weekend, invoking the memories of the two nurses and describing them as remarkable women who were part of the NHS family.

 

"This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays," May said at a daily government news conference.

 

"But please, I ask you to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them," she said.

 

"STICK WITH IT"

 

Johnson initially adopted a relatively restrained approach to the outbreak compared with other European leaders but swiftly changed tack when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die in the United Kingdom.

 

He effectively shuttered the world's fifth-largest economy, instructing people to stay at home and and ordering schools, non-essential shops and social venues to close.

 

"Please, please stick with the guidance now," Johnson said in his video message.

 

England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said that while the public's compliance with the social distancing guidance had improved, it was too early to talk about "green shoots" in terms of hospital admissions of coronavirus patients.

 

Van-Tam said that results of clinical trials of possible drugs to treat COVID-19 were likely to come in a few months.

 

Health minister Matt Hancock said that so far, clinical trials had focused on repurposing existing drugs. Van-Tam said the next round of trials would look at other medicines including some that might be in development for other diseases but might be helpful in treating COVID-19.

 

Hancock tested positive last week at about the same time as Johnson, but he has since left isolation, disclosing that he had lost half a stone (3.18 kg) in weight due to the virus.

 

On Friday, he attended the opening of a huge new hospital erected in just nine days in a conference centre in London.

 

(Additional reporting by William James, Costas Pitas, Alistair Smout, Elizabeth Piper, Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-04

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23 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Queen Elizabeth will address the nation on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said, only the fifth time she has done so other than at Christmas during her 68 years on the throne.

I'm mostly against hereditary privilige, but there are circumstances where it can be very useful, especially where the recipient has a strong sense of duty. Wouldn't want to be her, value my freedom to be an <deleted> without the media jumping on it. Of course, it can be abused. 

21 minutes ago, nausea said:

I'm mostly against hereditary privilige, but there are circumstances where it can be very useful, especially where the recipient has a strong sense of duty. Wouldn't want to be her, value my freedom to be an <deleted> without the media jumping on it. Of course, it can be abused. 

Hope its more interesting than her usual Christmas day ,sleep inducing message.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said that while the public's compliance with the social distancing guidance had improved, it was too early to talk about "green shoots" in terms of hospital admissions of coronavirus patients.

 

Van-Tam said that results of clinical trials of possible drugs to treat COVID-19 were likely to come in a few months.

He also said there is no evidence that the wearing of masks, by people who do not have the virus, has much of an effect on the spread of covid-19. 
 

Coronavirus: Staying home this weekend 'not a request', UK told https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52155430

The queens speech,i feel safer already.????

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

With the country nearing the end of its second week in lockdown, the UK death toll rose by nearly 700 to 3,605 and the National Health Service (NHS) said two nurses in their 30s had died of the disease.

Let's not forget, how this populist leader Boris was bragging how he shaked hands with people just few weeks ago. Boris wanted to downplay the coronavirus and show how strong person he is.

 

Those young nurses died. 

1 hour ago, anto said:

Hope its more interesting than her usual Christmas day ,sleep inducing message.

I'm wondering whether I should have a shave and put on some clothes for the occasion.

2 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

I'm wondering whether I should have a shave and put on some clothes for the occasion.

Of course we must.

 

555

The populist had their own time to show how they lead on their own populist propaganda agendas. 

 

We have now seen, how they are pretty much useless as leaders during the time, when the world requires real leaders. 

 

Boris, Trump, Putin are all just big talkers, without resources to improve the lives of common people. We have now seen how inept they really are, when real leadership is actually required.

 

Let's not forget this lesson what kind of leadership populism and populistic airtalk offers to the people. Let's remember this lesson, so that we can say No, when another one arises to the political front. 

Sure other monarchs worldwide will also be speaking to their people! especially in countries where they are revered so much by the populace as in.........  oh I forget which country!!

11 hours ago, stuhan said:

The queens speech,i feel safer already.????

At least she stayed inthe UK and is addressing her subjects. Not like some monarchs

12 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

He also said there is no evidence that the wearing of masks, by people who do not have the virus, has much of an effect on the spread of covid-19. 
 

Coronavirus: Staying home this weekend 'not a request', UK told https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52155430

No , that's wrong. if everyone is wearing a mask it will help indeed. 

You have only to overcome "Western arrogance". 

1 hour ago, sawadee1947 said:

No , that's wrong. if everyone is wearing a mask it will help indeed. 

You have only to overcome "Western arrogance". 

I never said it, tell England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam your scientifically, evidentially based explanation of why he is wrong. 

1 hour ago, Knocker33 said:

At least she stayed inthe UK and is addressing her subjects. Not like some monarchs

Germany is nice now in the spring.

29 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

I never said it, tell England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam your scientifically, evidentially based explanation of why he is wrong. 

Oh dear, sitting on this "Little Britain" blocks your contact to science unforunately 

21 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Oh dear, sitting on this "Little Britain" blocks your contact to science unforunately 

No idea what you are on about in that post. 

Edited April 4, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

Troll comment removed.