Boris Johnson Is Out of the Hospital

British PM makes first comments since leaving the ICU
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 12, 2020 5:37 AM CDT
Updated Apr 12, 2020 7:55 AM CDT
Boris Johnson Makes First Public Comments After ICU
Police officers stand guard outside St. Thomas' hospital where Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted for coronavirus, in London, Thursday, April 9, 2020.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not only out of the ICU, he's out of the hospital and sounds grateful to be on the other side of it. "I can't thank them enough," he said, per CNN, of medical staff at St. Thomas' Hospital in his first public comments Saturday since his bout with coronavirus worsened and landed him in the hospital. "I owe them my life." Johnson left the hospital on Sunday, and is not expected to return to work immediately, but rather to recover at the prime minister's country retreat, Chequers. A rep on Friday said that the PM was "able to do short walks" and that he's in "extremely good spirits" as he begins his recovery.

Over at the Guardian, Toby Helm runs through 10 Downing Street's attempts to downplay Johnson's illness for 10 days as his health steadily worsened. One person attacking those tactics is Johnson's own half-brother. "From what I gather—and I wasn't there—no one asked a doctor to mask up and physically examine him the whole time—more than 10 days," says Max Johnson. "What's the point of bodyguards when you can't have a doctor? The Office of Prime Minister needs better protection." No. 10 calls Max Johnson's comments "inaccurate," and Boris Johnson's health a "private matter." (More Boris Johnson stories.)

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