Boris Johnson is "stable": LBC updates from the briefing
7 April 2020, 13:28 | Updated: 7 April 2020, 14:23
Boris Johnson is "stable": update live from the briefing
LBC’s Westminster reporter gives James O’Brien the latest update on the Prime Minister’s condition from the briefing.
Boris Johnson is stable, remains in good spirits and is breathing without a ventilator, a No 10 spokesperson confirmed.
It was also confirmed the Prime Minister has not been diagnosed with pneumonia.
Mr Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital on Monday night after his condition worsened.
Reporter Ben Kentish told LBC this was move was a "precaution" - No 10 assured the press that patients are moved to ICU as a precaution as the hospital has the capacity to do this, and this was not special treatment.
Downing Street also confirmed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will take over prime ministerial duties if Dominic Raab is taken ill with coronavirus - the so-called order of "designated survivor".
The spokesman added that the government has a "very clear plan" for responding to the coronavirus pandemic and the mood in government is "determined".
Mr Johnson was originally admitted to St Thomas' on Sunday on the advice of his doctor after continuing to display symptoms of cough and high temperature ten days after testing positive for the virus.
The speed of the Prime Minister's decline has caused palpable shock at Westminster after his symptoms were previously described as "mild".
Read more: Medic explains what Boris Johnson's move to ICU means
The speed of the Prime Minister's decline has caused palpable shock at Westminster after his symptoms were previously described as "mild".
His spokesman, however, rejected claims that No 10 had sought to hide the seriousness of his condition.
"We have been fully frank with you throughout," the spokesman told reporters.
"We have issued you with regular updates on the Prime Minister's health.
"His condition worsened yesterday afternoon. A decision was taken that he needed to be moved to an intensive care unit at around 7pm.
"We informed you all as soon as was practically possible. We have a commitment to be as transparent as we can be throughout this process."
Mr Johnson's condition means that his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with their first child, is unable to visit him in hospital.
She said at the weekend that she is "on the mend" after herself being forced to self-isolate after displaying symptoms of the disease.
