UK braces for more virus deaths; Johnson reported stable

Britons braced Thursday for several more weeks in lockdown as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in a London hospital after three nights in intensive care for treatment of his coronavirus infection.

British government said Wednesday evening that prime minister was making “stey progress” at St. Thomas’ Hospital and sitting up in bed. He has been receiving oxygen but t on a ventilator since his COVID-19 symptoms worsened and he was mitted to an ICU.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Thursday that Johnson was stable and “seems to be doing reasonably well.” An update on prime minister’s condition is expected later.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in while Johnson is ill, will chair a meeting of government’s COBRA crisis committee to discuss wher to extend restrictions on public activity and people’s movements imposed March 23 to try to slow spre of virus.

original restrictions were for three weeks, a period that ends Monday. But re is little prospect of government’s stay-home order and business closures being lifted. Restrictions could be strengned if people flock to parks and outdoor s over what is forecast to be a warm, sunny Easter weekend.

More than 7,000 people with coronavirus have died in British hospitals, according to government figures. While number of new confirmed cases has begun to plateau, deaths continue to rise. On Wednesday, U.K. reported 938 deaths, country’s biggest increase to date.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said re was prospect of lockdown being “lifted immediately or even imminently.”“I wouldn’t expect any change coming out of today’s COBRA meeting,” she told Sky News.Dowden said “ curve (of new cases) is beginning to flatten.”“This is moment that we need to stick to path we’ve chosen,” he told Sky News. “ British people have really come behind this. We shouldn’t be giving up this Easter weekend, that is number one thing.”

(Im Credit: AP)