Boris Johnson has been admitted to intensive care at St Thomas’ in London, an NHS hospital, as his condition worsened.
The Prime Minister has not been on a ventilator but has received oxygen, Michael Gove said on his morning broadcast round, and he has been moved to intensive care as a precaution in case he needs ventilation.
Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, will assume the Prime Minister’s responsibilities as part of his role as First Secretary of State, the Prime Minister’s de facto deputy, while the PM recovers.
Politicians from across the spectrum have wished the PM a full and speedy recovery, and have extended their thoughts and prayers to him and his family, as mine also are and yours will be too.
I know, too, that the news will be a source of further anxiety to many of you. The NHS has produced a helpful and short guide to tackling feelings of unease and anxiety arising from the epidemic.
I think almost all of us are, at least intermittently, finding this period a struggle but I also know from reading your emails that many of you are also battling feelings of guilt: because you are anxious despite still having a job, or being furloughed on a good income, or being together with your family.
It’s ok – considering the circumstances, I’d say it’s human and healthy – to feel anxious or unhappy even while knowing that others have it worse than you. Stay safe and look after yourself, and thanks as ever for all your emails (I’m sorry I’m often bad at replying to them!) and for reading Morning Call.