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  • United Kingdom.Boris Johnson asks the British for patience: "It is too early to lift the bolt"

Boris Johnson has become a father again at the age of 55 and in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. In complete surprise (the birth was not expected until June), Downing Street confirmed the news early on Wednesday: his girlfriend Carrie Symonds, 32, has given birth in a London hospital to the sixth child of the "premier".

"Both mother and baby are fine," the short statement read. "Both the Prime Minister and Carrie Symonds want to thank the great maternity service of our public health."

Johnson and Symonds had returned to Downing Street on Sunday after a two-week stay at the Checkers' residence, where the two recovered after contracting the coronavirus . The two had announced the bride's pregnancy and plans to get married in March, before the epidemic broke out.

Boris Johnson separated more than a year and a half ago from his second wife and mother to their four children, attorney Marina Wheeler. The divorce was consummated just three months ago. Johnson was married as a young man to his first love at Oxford University, Allegra Mostn-Owen. The "premier", with an intense love life and a long list of extramarital affairs, is also credited with a daughter by art expert Helen Macintyre.

The "premier" announced in his day that he would take paternity leave , but the month that he has been on leave and the critical moment of the epidemic (which has claimed 21,678 victims to date in the United Kingdom), will surely force him reconsider the decision.

In fact, Johnson had originally planned to return to Parliament on Wednesday to participate in the weekly Question Time with the Prime Minister. Downing Street warned, however, on Tuesday that Johnson's attendance was conditioned by his state of health. At the last minute, and while his girlfriend was in hospital, the "premier" again delegated to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, as he did during his three-week long absence.

Johnson received warm congratulations from the entire political class, although analysts highlighted how the news can become a new "distraction", at the height of the epidemic and when the "premier" should announce the exit plan to the "bolt" which has been applied in the UK since March 23.

The premature birth surprised both locals and strangers. The couple had announced the birth "for early summer," preceded by a wedding for close friends. All the plans were blown up by the emergency situation and by Johnson's own announcement on March 26, when he tested positive for the coronavirus.

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