British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in intensive care due to the coronavirus.
»COMPLETE COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS
Johnson’s office said the prime minister is conscious and does not require ventilation. He was admitted to St. Thomas’ Hospital late Sunday, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
President Donald Trump said he was saddened to hear Johnson was taken into intensive care as he battles the new coronavirus.
“Americans are all praying for his recovery,” Trump said during a White House press briefing Monday. “He’s been a really good friend. He’s been really something very special, strong, resolute, doesn’t quit, doesn’t give up.”
Trump said he asked two “leading companies” to contact officials in London about therapeutics that could be of help.
He did not specifically identify the companies but said “we have contacted all of Boris’ doctors, and we’ll see what’s going to take place, but they are ready to go.”
“When you get brought into intensive care, that gets very, very serious with this particular disease,” Trump said.
The prime minister, 55, is the world’s first known head of government to fall ill with the virus.
Johnson tested positive for the virus and had said in a series of video messages during his self-isolation that he was displaying "mild symptoms" of a cough and a high temperature.
“Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital,” Johnson’s office said in a statement.
Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him.
On Sunday, Raab told reporters he had not spoken to Johnson since Saturday but insisted that the prime minister remains in charge of the government.
Raab, who earlier chaired the government’s daily coronavirus briefing, said Johnson had a “comfortable” night after being admitted to St. Thomas’ Hospital in south London late Sunday, and that the prime minister was “in good spirits.”
The government’s chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, said it was possible for people to carry on working from the hospital but that any decision relating to Johnson’s ability to do so could only be made by his own personal medics.
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