Coronavirus-hit Boris Johnson in hospital amid UK crisis

Mr Johnson is thought to have been given oxygen treatment, with claims he had 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic workrate. One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill and should rest. 

Downing Street has insisted the premier remains in control of the government's response, despite remaining in hospital with no clear timeframe for being discharged.

However, his effective deputy Dominic Raab is chairing the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning, and the PM will clearly not be playing the same role as usual.   

In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. 

Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. 

 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson had been 'working incredibly hard' and said he hoped he would be back in Downing Street soon - but did not rule out him being forced to stay in for longer. 

Health minister Nadine Dorries - the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, but now recovered - suggested the PM needs to 'sleep and recover'.

Foreign Office minister James Duddridge said Mr Johnson must now 'let others do the heavy lifting', while Tory West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the PM might have to recognise he is 'not indispensable' while he recovers. 

Cabinet minister Michael Gove's wife Sarah Vine delivered a furious rebuke to those who had been demanding Mr Johnson keep working, saying: 'I hope you are happy now. He's in hospital.' 

One Tory MP told the Telegraph Mr Johnson should stop trying to be copy Churchill's example during the Second World War and instead let another Cabinet minister take charge of the national efforts to fight the virus.

The MP said: 'I hear that the number of hours that he is able to work, he is finding frustrating. You don't hold the camera up and look grim - it is not going to inspire the nation.

'Unfortunately he has written too many books on Churchill and wants to be the guy - he needs to be Boris Johnson and not try to be someone else.' 

On another turbulent day in the coronavirus crisis:  

* Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the effort to combat coronavirus has been damaged after she was forced to accept the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules; 

* The Queen has hailed the sacrifice of frontline NHS workers battling the virus in a rare televised address that moved the nation as she praised the resolve of the British people to stay at home telling them: 'We'll meet again'; 

* The number of cases rose 5,903 to 47,806 and the number of deaths climbed by 621 to 4,934;

* Worrying figures showed the UK's coronavirus epidemic was set to overtake that suffered by France and Italy; 

* Health Secretary Matt Hancock threatened to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to flout social distancing measures; 

* A 54-year-old from Essex became the first midwife to die with coronavirus in England.

Boris Johnson (pictured on Downing Street clapping NHS staff on April 2) has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus

Mr Johnson's effective deputy Dominic Raab is chairing the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning

Health minister Nadine Dorries - the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, but now recovered - suggested the PM needs to 'sleep and recover'

Michael Gove's wife Sarah Vine tweeted a furious rebuke at those who had been demanding Mr Johnson keep working

On Friday, the PM released a selfie-style video from self-isolation in Number 11 revealing he still had the symptoms of Covid-19

His overnight stay at a London NHS hospital, believed to be St Thomas' in Westminster (pictured last night), comes 10 days after he first tested positive for the infection and began self-isolating in his Number 11 flat

Donald Trump wished Mr Johnson well in his 'personal fight' with coronavirus last night and said 'all Americans are praying for him' as the Prime Minister spent his first night in hospital.

Tony Blair refused to say whether he thought the PM should stand aside, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I have every sympathy and solidarity with him. I know it must be a hellish situation to be in.'  

Foreign Secretary Mr Raab stepped in this morning to chair the daily 'war cabinet' dealing with the pandemic.

But Downing Street insisted Mr Johnson was still in charge despite his illness. Officials confirmed he was in an NHS hospital but would not say what tests he was undergoing and how long he would be in hospital. 

He is thought to have been treated with oxygen, and is likely to have tests on white blood cell count, and liver and kidney function, according to doctors. 

He is also likely to undergo an electrocardiogram to check his heart as well as his chest X-rayed and lungs scanned, particularly if he was found to be struggling for breath. 

Even ministers were openly calling for Mr Johnson to take time out today. Ms Dorries said: 'Many with #COVID19 are felled by fatigue/temperature and use isolation to sleep+recover. Boris has risked his health & worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus. Lets do our bit for him and @carriesymonds now. Send them our love.' 

Mr Duddridge tweeted: 'Take care boss. Get well. Come back fighting. But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift.' 

Mr Street said the PM might have to hand control to his team for the time being. 'We would hope that he would be able to continue to lead the Government, that's what he's said, but we all have to learn in life don't we that we're not indispensable and the team around you will step into your shoes if he is not able to do what I know he will be so, so desperate to carry on doing himself,' he told Today. 

Ms Vine, a Mail columnist, said: 'So to all those who have been hysterically shouting 'where's Boris, where's boris?' I hope you're happy now. He's in hospital. Next thing you know you'll be complaining that he's putting extra strain on the nhs by taking up a bed.' 

Tory MPs told MailOnline the reaction of Mr Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to Mr Raab being in control could be 'interesting'. 

The PM's admission to hospital emerged minutes after the Queen's historic TV address to the nation where she urged the country to pull together to fight coronavirus, saying: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' And she echoed Second World War heroine Dame Vera Lynn, promising anguished families separated by the crisis: 'We will meet again.' 

A Downing Street spokeswoman last night said: 'On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.

'This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus.

'The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.'  

Number 10 did not disclose which hospital he had been admitted to, but The Times reported it was St Thomas', where armed police were seen patrolling last night. 

Doctors will monitor Mr Johnson's vital signs as well as conduct blood tests to assess how his immune system is fighting the virus, as well as assessing liver and kidney function, according to a leading scientist.

Dr Rupert Beale, Group Leader, Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, said: 'They will perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the heart. 

'More sophisticated tests may include a CT scan of the chest to get an accurate picture of the lungs. They will consider the best way to deliver oxygen, and will also consider other treatments depending on test results.'  

Despite continuing to suffer the symptoms of the virus - namely a high temperature -  Mr Johnson, 55, has resolved to remain at the helm of the government's crisis management. 

In this morning's broadcast interviews, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Mr Johnson was doing 'ok' and still providing leadership. 

Mr Hancock has since recovered from the virus after revealing he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 27, the same day Mr Johnson also made public his own infection via Twitter. 

Number 10 did not disclose which hospital he had been admitted to, but it was reported it was St Thomas', where armed police were seen patrolling last night

In a message of hope, Her Majesty urged the public to take comfort in the knowledge that better times lie ahead and that loved ones will be reunited 

Alarm bells started ringing that the nerve centre of the government's crisis response had been compromised when chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and top Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings also began showing symptoms. 

Meetings have since been held via videolink, and rather than fronting the daily Number 10 press briefings, the PM has taken to releasing selfie-style videos from isolation. 

In his most recent clip two days ago, Mr Johnson said he 'still had minor symptoms, I have a temperature, and so in accordance with the government I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom goes'. 

He was last seen outside on Thursday, when he stepped on to Downing Street to applaud NHS workers. 

In the event the PM is too sick to continue in his role, Mr Raab, as First Secretary of State, would step in as acting leader. 

Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancée Carrie Symonds, who is due in the early summer, is also self-isolating in her own Camberwell apartment with the couple's dog Dilyn after symptoms surfaced. 

The 32-year-old said on Saturday: '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.'

Politicians of all parties offered their best wishes to the PM this evening and prayed for a quick recovery.

Sir Keir Starmer, who was this weekend elected as Labour leader, was among the first to wish him a 'speedy recovery'.

Former foreign and health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'Thoughts with Boris Johnson this evening. Whatever political persuasion the whole country is united in wanting our PM to get fit and well as soon as possible.'  

Mr Johnson has been taken to hospital at a critical time in the UK's health emergency, as the number of coronavirus cases begins to peak.

Ministers have been begging the public to observe strict social distancing measures to stem the tide of infection from spreading and overwhelming the NHS.

But scenes from the warm weekend showed people flouting government rules and flocking to the nation's parks to sunbathe.

Mr Hancock warned Britons that he was prepared to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to disobey his instructions.    

The call on the public to stay indoors was echoed in Her Majesty's address to the nation which was aired last night after being pre-recorded from Windsor Castle, where she is isolating with her husband Philip.