By Danielle Wallace | Fox News
March 17, 2020: Britain's Chancellor Rishi Sunak, left, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrive for a press briefing about the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, inside 10 Downing Street in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
U.K. Prime Minister Boris
Johnson has tested negative for the coronavirus, his spokesman, James Slack, said Monday, one
day after he was released from the hospital.
He will “not immediately returning to work,” Slack said
Monday, adding that Johnson had spoken to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab,
who has been deputizing for the prime minister during his illness, over the
weekend.
Johnson, 55, was discharged from St. Thomas’ Hospital in
London on Sunday and then went to Chequers, the prime minister’s country
residence, around 40 miles northwest of the capital.
In a video message posted to Twitter after his release,
the prime minister said: "It is hard to find the words to express my debt
to the NHS for saving my life.”
It is hard to find the
words to express my debt to the NHS for saving my life.
The efforts of millions of people across this country to stay home are worth it. Together we will overcome this challenge, as we have overcome so many challenges in the past. #StayHomeSaveLives
The efforts of millions of people across this country to stay home are worth it. Together we will overcome this challenge, as we have overcome so many challenges in the past. #StayHomeSaveLives
"I thank you because so many millions and millions
of people across this country have been doing the right thing, millions going
through the hardship of self-isolation faithfully, patiently, and with thought
and care for others as well as themselves," he said.
Johnson was admitted to St. Thomas’ on April 5 after his
condition worsened and he was transferred the following day to its intensive
care unit, where he received oxygen but was not put on a ventilator. He
spent three nights there before moving back to a regular hospital ward.
On Sunday, Johnson's pregnant fiancee, Carrie Symonds,
also expressed thanks for the "magnificent" NHS and staff at the
hospital. She was also sickened with the virus.
"There were times last week that were very dark
indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick
about their loved ones," she tweeted.
Johnson was diagnosed over two weeks ago, becoming the first world leader confirmed to have the illness.
His coronavirus symptoms at first were said to have been mild, including a
cough and a fever, and he was working from home during the first few days
before he was hospitalized.
Johnson's move had raised questions and concerns about
how the British government would run, especially considering that the line of
succession is not explicitly set out in the unwritten British Constitution.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had been deputized
"where necessary" in Johnson’s absence and was conducting daily
cabinet meetings as well as daily government briefings to the public in
Johnson's place.
Britain has been in an effective lockdown since March 23
and the government is set to extend the restrictions sometime next week.
As of Monday, the United Kingdom recorded 85,212
confirmed cases, with at least 10,612 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins
University.
Fox News' Travis Fedschun, Adam Shaw and the
Associated Press contributed to this report.
