Boris Johnson 'focusing on his recovery' at Chequers and not work, say Number 10
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds are staying at Chequers while the PM recovers (PA)
2 min read
Boris Johnson is “focusing on his recovery” and is not carrying out any Government work as he recovers from coronavirus at Chequers, Number 10 have said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed no papers are being delivered to his official residence as he convalesces following a week in hospital with Covid-19.
Downing Street said reports Mr Johnson was tested for the deadly disease before he left St Thomas’ on Sunday were true, with the results coming back negative.
After leaving hospital the PM stopped off at Downing Street to deliver a video message thanking the staff for keeping him alive after his admission to intensive care when his condition worsened.
He paid tribute to the “unconquerable” NHS in an emotional statement, saying two nurses - Jenny from New Zealand, and Luis from Portugal - “stood by my bedside when things could have gone either way”.
Mr Johnson then headed to his official residence in Buckinghamshire with his pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds and their dog Dilyn to continue his recovery.
But his spokesman said there was currently no date for when he will return to work as the man leading the UK’s response to the pandemic, which has now claimed the lives of at least 10,000 across the country.
"He's focusing on his recovery and is not currently carrying out Government work,” he said.
“Any decisions which he makes in relation to when he returns to Government work will be following the advice of his medical team.”
Mr Johnson has spoken to Dominic Raab, the first secretary of state who is deputising for him, but Number 10 did not say if they discussed coronavirus strategy, with a decision on continuing strict social distancing measures required later this week.
And his spokesman defended travelling to Chequers rather than stay at his primary residence in London because it “is considered to be a suitable place for the Prime Minister to continue his recovery”.
Asked if the statements saying Mr Johnson was “in good sprits” during his hospital stay were truthful given his own admission the NHS had “saved my life, no question”, Downing Street defended the claims.
“All of the information we gave was provided to us by St Thomas hospital, who gave the PM excellent care throughout,” they said.
"We released everything the hospital considered clinically relevant."
And they also clarified that the PM had never received his ministerial ‘red box’ while in hospital, as his condition worsened last Monday, before it was due to be delivered that evening.
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