Boris Johnson takes to Twitter to tell Brits to 'keep going' with lockdown
30 April 2020, 15:36
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken to Twitter to tell Brits "to keep going" during the coronavirus lockdown.
The UK leader used social media to encourage people to maintain their efforts despite any "anxiety" they may feel amid the Covid-19 crisis.
It comes as the prime minister prepares to lead the government's daily press briefing from Downing Street for the first time in a month.
Mr Johnson has been absent from the press conferences since 25 March following a personal battle with coronavirus and the birth of his baby son.
The prime minister expressed his empathy with the people of the UK, saying that he "shares" the "anxiety" felt by people being forced to live in lockdown.
1/3: I know how hard and how stressful it has been to give up even temporarily those ancient and basic freedoms, not seeing friends, not seeing loved ones, working from home, managing the kids, worrying about your job and your firm.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 30, 2020
Although he "understands" those who are beginning to feel impatient because of the social restrictions being imposed, the UK leader urged people "to keep going" in order to continue protecting the NHS and save lives.
Repeating part of a speech he made in Downing Street on Monday, he wrote: "I know how hard and how stressful it has been to give up even temporarily those ancient and basic freedoms, not seeing friends, not seeing loved ones, working from home, managing the kids, worrying about your job and your firm.
"So let me say directly also to British business, to the shopkeepers, to the entrepreneurs, to the hospitality sector, to everyone on whom our economy depends: I understand your impatience, I share your anxiety.
"But I must ask you to keep going in the way that you have kept going so far, so we can protect our NHS and save lives."
2/3: So let me say directly also to British business, to the shopkeepers, to the entrepreneurs, to the hospitality sector, to everyone on whom our economy depends: I understand your impatience, I share your anxiety.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 30, 2020
Meanwhile, the prime minister has opted to take his paternity leave later in the year in order to keep a "firm grip" on the coronavirus pandemic.
LBC News will be live-streaming his first live press conference in a month, during which he is expected to give an update on lockdown measures.
Mr Johnson will likely be joined by a duo of the UK's top medical experts and is expected to field questions from the media and the general public.
You can watch it live HERE from around 5pm this afternoon.
3/3: But I must ask you to keep going in the way that you have kept going so far, so we can protect our NHS and save lives.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 30, 2020
