Prime Minister Boris Johnson was released from intensive care on Thursday April 9, after reaching Covid-19, the government spokesman said. The hospitalization of the 55-year-old leader has deprived the United Kingdom of its leader at a time when the country is sinking into the crisis of the new coronavirus, with daily reports among the highest in Europe.

"The Prime Minister was transferred tonight from the intensive care unit to the treatment rooms, where he will be closely monitored during the first phase of his recovery," said his spokesman.

The country has recorded an additional 881 deaths from sick Covid-19 patients, bringing the total to 7,978, according to a daily report, released on Thursday by Foreign Minister Dominic Raab, who is temporarily leading the government.

Among the victims was a doctor in his fifties who had launched the alert to the executive about the cruel lack of protective equipment for carers. The virus officially infected 65,077 people in the country.

Prolonged confinement

Dominic Raab once again urged the British to respect confinement, which should be extended beyond the three weeks initially planned, in principle until next Monday, despite considerable economic and social cost.

At the end of a government crisis meeting, by videoconference, on the future of the British strategy, he indicated that a formal decision would not be taken until "the end of next week".

It is "too early" to relax the social distancing measures in place, he warned, adding that this could only happen once the "peak" is crossed, which is not expected before several weeks.

"Our immediate priority is to slow the spread of the virus," said Dominic Raab. "We are starting to see the effects of the sacrifices" made by the population, but "we are not there yet, we must continue," he insisted.

Authorities have welcomed good signs in the trend of new infections and hospitalizations, which may affect mortality in the coming weeks, although the number of deaths should continue to increase in the next two weeks, according to the scientific adviser from the government, Patrick Vallance. But they fear a loosening of compliance with instructions which would cause a new wave of contamination, especially during the four days of Easter weekend, which promise to be sunny.

Police, who can punish offenders, said they would strengthen their device over the long weekend and increase the number of patrols.

The UK had been slow to follow its neighbors into confinement but, since March 23, the British have been asked to stay at home as much as possible and most of the stores are closed.

Without waiting for a decision on an extension to London, Wales and Scotland have already warned that the confinement should be extended "several more weeks".

With AFP

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