One week after he was admitted due to “worsening” COVID-19 symptoms, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. In a statement, Johnson said it was hard to find the words to express his debt to the healthcare workers who saved his life.
Johnson said in a video message that two nurses stood by his bedside for 48 hours “when things could have gone either way.” He explained that the reason he was able to eventually get enough oxygen was because the nurses were watching him every second and making interventions when needed.
It is hard to find the words to express my debt to the NHS for saving my life.
The efforts of millions of people across this country to stay home are worth it. Together we will overcome this challenge, as we have overcome so many challenges in the past. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/HK7Ch8BMB5
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 12, 2020
The British leader was admitted into the hospital on April 5th, ten days after revealing he had tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson attempted to self-isolate at the prime minister apartment located above No. 11 Downing Street, but when his condition “worsened” he was taken to the hospital.
During his hospital stay, Johnson was placed in intensive care as a precautionary measure but he didn’t need a ventilator. Hospital staff transferred him back to a regular ward on Thursday. At the time, a spokesperson said that Johnson was “in extremely good spirits.”
“I have today left hospital after a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question. It’s hard to find words to express my debt but before I come to that I want to thank everyone in the entire UK for the effort and the sacrifice you have made and are making,” said Johnson.
A Downing Street spokesperson added that Johnson would be continuing his recovery at his country residence Chequers, and on the advice of his medical team he will not be immediately returning to work.
#BorisJohnson to recuperate at #Chequers after being discharged from hospital pic.twitter.com/1qyzweZtMd
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) April 12, 2020
Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, is currently pregnant with the couple’s first child, and she has also been suffering from symptoms of coronavirus. She wrote on Twitter that she couldn’t thank NHS enough and the staff at St. Thomas’ Hospital was incredible. Symonds added that she would never be able to repay them or stop thanking them for what they have done.
Symonds also revealed that there were many times last week that were “very dark indeed.”
Advertisement
As of April 12, there have been nearly 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK and nearly 10,000 deaths. While Johnson is recovering, he has turned over his authority to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo77IrbCipqOesaa%2BjaipoGeloHqxvsimnGalmaO2tMDEq2Sbp6KewG62zqGlrKeeYr%2BmuMSaqp6cXZu%2FsLmMoaasqJmprq15wJ%2BrnqpdmLy3tcNmaHJllJ6uqLrOrKCsZZlivLixjK2fnqVdosZuuMifnGZraGx%2Ben%2BO