igotamatch

How is Boris Johnson doing?
The PM's Covid-19 infection worsened yesterday, and he began to struggle to breathe and needed oxygen.

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But Downing Street confirmed at lunchtime today that his condition has now stabilised at St Thomas' Hospital.

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Mr Johnson hasn't needed to be placed on a ventilator, because his condition hasn't deteriorated over the past 12 hours and he is able to breathe unassisted.

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Plus, he does not have pneumonia.

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A joint statement from Downing Street and St Thomas’ Hospital said: “The PM has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits.

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“He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance.

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“He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.”

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Mr Johnson was transferred to ICU last night after he started struggling to breathe.

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Doctors have prepared a ventilation unit to be ready by his bedside should his condition worsen. No10 has stressed there is more than enough capacity.

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It is not known whether Mr Johnson is well enough to be taking phone calls, but he has not spoken to Dominic Raab, his defacto deputy PM.

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Another update on his health is expected later today.

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The PM initially needed four litres of oxygen, sources at the hospital told The Times.

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The normal threshold for intensive care is 15 litres, suggesting that he was in better health than other patients may be.

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However, as recently as December 2018 Boris admitted he weighed 16-and-a-half-stone, which would put him into an obese category.

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Friends and leaders around the world have praised the PM's fighting spirit and mental toughness, saying he is "far fitter than he looks".

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Media outside St Thomas' Hospital after Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care when his coronavirus symptoms worsened
Media outside St Thomas' Hospital after Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care when his coronavirus symptoms worsenedCredit: Reuters
In a further update, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told LBC radio this morning: "He's not on a ventilator no.

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"The PM has received some oxygen support and he is kept under, of course, close supervision.

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"[Mr Johnson] is in intensive care, being looked after by his medical team, receiving the very, very best care from the team at St Thomas'."

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Mr Gove said he wasn't sure whether there has been a diagnosis of pneumonia.

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Another pal, Will Walden, Mr Johnson's former director of communications when he was London mayor, said he's "far fitter than he looks".

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He explained to BBC Radio 4 that there were no major underlying health conditions, while pointing out that Mr Johnson "will whip anybody's backside on a tennis court - he runs regularly, he doesn't smoke and he drinks moderately.

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"So I think if anyone is in a good position both physically and mentally to fight off the disease then the Prime Minister is that person."

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Former PM, David Cameron, said: "You are in great hands and we all want you safe, well and back in

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