PM Boris Johnson up and walking in COVID-19 recovery as UK deaths near 9,000

LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson was back on his feet in his recovery from COVID-19 on Friday, while his fellow Britons were told to resist the temptation of going out in the spring sunshine over Easter as the coronavirus death toll rose to nearly 9,000.

The prime minister's rapid health decline shook the country earlier this week, but he came out of three nights of intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital on Thursday. He was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after his symptoms persisted.

A spokesman for Johnson said the prime minister, 55, was back on a hospital ward as he continued his recovery, which was said to be at an early stage.


"I was told he was waving his thanks to all of the nurses and doctors he saw as he was moved from the intensive care unit back to the ward," the spokesman said. "The hospital said that he was in extremely good spirits last night."

His Downing Street office said later that Johnson had been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he was receiving.

"He has spoken to his doctors and thanks the whole clinical team for the incredible care," a spokesman said.

Johnson was the first world leader to be hospitalised with the coronavirus, forcing him to hand control to foreign minister Dominic Raab just as Britain's coronavirus outbreak worsened drastically.