UK PM back to work on Monday despite ‘debilitating’ COVID-19 symptoms (Ld)

London, April 26 (IANS) UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will return to work in the Downing Street on Monday despite still feeling the “debilitating” symptoms of the novel coronavirus, the media reported on Sunday.

The Prime Minister will resume charge of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic when he resumes work after a spell in intensive care and recovering from the disease for which tested positive late March, reports the Metro newspaper.

Johnson was discharged from the St Thomas’ Hospital in London on April 12, one week after being admitted to be treated for coronavirus.

He spent several nights in the intensive care unit where he was given oxygen.

Johnson was said to be “raring to go” after spending the past two weeks recuperating at his official country residence Chequers, though allies warn that he was still suffering with the effects of the deadly disease.

A source close to the Prime Minister told the Daily Mail: “It will be a while before he is working 14-hour days again.”

Johnson has not been in constant contact with the public during his recovery, nor has he been in charge of decision making.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Johnson was “definitely on the mend in a big way”.

Johnson prepared for his return with a three-hour summit meeting on Friday with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputising for him, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

His return to No 10 on a part-time basis initially, will come amid growing pressure from senior Conservatives to begin easing lockdown and growing dismay at the damage it was causing to the economy, said the Metro newspaper report.

Newly-elected Labour leader Keir Starmer also added to the pressure by stepping up his calls for Ministers to set out an “exit strategy” for lifting the restrictions once it was safe to do so.

In a letter to Johnson, Starmer said it was essential Ministers learned the lessons from the mistakes made dealing with the crisis.

However, scientists advising the Government on its response warned it was far too soon to consider any relaxation, as the official death toll for the UK has increased to 20,381, with a total of 149,569 cases.

–IANS

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