The UK continues to live to the rhythm of health bulletins, those of the country and that of the Prime Minister. After spending his third day in intensive care, Boris Johnson "remains clinically stable and responds to treatment," his services said. Holding the daily press conference, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak assured Wednesday evening that "his condition is improving" .
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Rishi Sunak said the Prime Minister could "sit in bed" , actively interacting with the medical team. If it is confirmed that the head of government was not placed on a respirator even if he received an oxygen supply, Downing Street did not want to comment on information from the British press, pointing to other signs encouraging. The Times reported that the persistent high fever that prompted Boris Johnson's hospitalization on Sunday evening had finally started to decrease. The Telegraph points out that the Prime Minister, treated at St Thomas Hospital, is followed by the best pulmonologist in the country, Richard Leach.
Incompressible convalescence
If there is no further deterioration in his state of health, there is no indication of discharge from the intensive care unit for the time being. And the country wonders about the duration of this period of incapacity of Boris Johnson, who asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab to represent him everywhere "where it is necessary" . Times science journalist Tom Whipple believes that the Prime Minister - even if his health does not deteriorate - is likely to remain in hospital until at least the weekend of April 18-19.
Downing Street source acknowledges common rule of rest for each day spent in intensive careAbove all, it seems obvious that Boris Johnson, even when cured, will be weakened and will have to observe an incompressible period of convalescence. Which in concrete terms can mean several weeks without activity. A Downing Street source acknowledged that a commonly accepted rule states that a week of rest is required for each day spent in intensive care. However, important decisions will have to be made, starting with the fate of the confinement which was decreed on March 23 for a period of three weeks.
A committee is to examine its extension this Thursday. Various government sources have suggested that this type of big decision is always up to Boris Johnson, at least as long as he is able to express his choices. And that if he was unable to do so, instructions existed but they were "classified" .
As everywhere, this question of the date of release from containment is crucial. According to the government's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Wallace, there are signs that the number of infections is starting to stabilize. The latest death toll remains high, however, with 938 deaths in 24 hours, a new and sad record bringing the total death toll to over 7,000. And the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said on Wednesday that the capital was "still far" from being able to lift the restrictions. According to the experts consulted, the peak of the epidemic could only intervene in a week and a half.
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To keep the population mobilized, Rishi Sunak noted that the hospitalization of the Prime Minister "reminds us how blind this disease is" and that "almost everyone will know someone affected by the disease" .
