Coronavirus: Boris Johnson's health "improves", says British government

His hospitalization last Sunday, nine days after the announcement of his contamination with Covid-19, but even more his admission to the intensive care service the next day had raised many concerns on the other side of the Channel. The news of Boris Johnson's state of health, according to information disclosed by the British government, is rather reassuring.

The Prime Minister's state of health is "improving", the finance minister announced on Wednesday at the daily government conference. The conservative leader is still in intensive care, but his situation is "improving". He can "sit on his bed" and "talk" with the caregivers, said Minister Rishi Sunak.

Political questions

Boris Johnson is to date the only high-powered head of government to have been infected with the virus, which continues to spread in the United Kingdom. Because of this hospitalization, it could be up to Dominic Raab, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to take a possible decision to extend the confinement, with particularly painful social, economic and social consequences.

But according to Downing Street, this decision will come after the three weeks of confinement initially decreed on March 23, after many hesitations of the government. It will be taken when the peak is "passed", said Secretary of State for Health Edward Argar on the BBC. "We are about two weeks behind France, a few weeks behind Italy in terms of figures" of contamination and death, detailed on Tuesday government scientific adviser Patrick Vallance.

Support from foreign heads of state

Former mayor of London, Boris Johnson does not suffer from any other pathology but manages problems of overweight. Very popular after his victory in the legislative elections in December when he undertook to implement the divorce from the European Union, Boris Johnson was nevertheless criticized for having delayed adopting containment measures against the pandemic. Outings remain authorized, in particular for shopping or physical exercise.

Boris Johnson taunted the virus in early March boasting of having "shaken hands with everyone", including Covid-19 patients during a hospital visit. Now sick himself, he has received messages of support from around the world, notably from Emmanuel Macron in France. He also received prayers from Donald Trump and greetings from Vladimir Putin.