Boris Johnson 'has not needed mechanical ventilation' after a 2nd night in intensive care
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spent a second night in intensive care and is in stable condition, the UK health minister Edward Argar said on Wednesday.
Johnson, who was admitted to intensive care on Monday, has received oxygen treatment but has not required a ventilator so far, Downing Street says.
The Times of London cited an unnamed source suggesting that Johnson's persistent temperature had come down.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will continue to stand in for the prime minister in his absence.
Here's what we know about Raab, Johnson's "designated survivor."
What happens if Johnson becomes too ill to remain prime minister.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in stable condition after a second night in intensive care, the UK health minister Edward Argar said on Wednesday.
Johnson, who was admitted to St. Thomas' Hospital on Sunday with "persistent" symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, was moved into intensive care at about 7 p.m. in London on Monday.
"The Prime Minister remains stable and has not needed mechanical ventilation overnight," Argar told the BBC on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Johnson on Tuesday evening said the prime minister remained in "good spirits."
"The prime minister's condition is stable and he remains in intensive care for close monitoring," the spokesman said. "He is in good spirits."
His spokesman earlier on Tuesday said Johnson was receiving oxygen treatment and did not have pneumonia.
The Times of London on Wednesday cited an unnamed source suggesting that the prime minister's persistently high temperature had come down.
Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, is standing in for Johnson while he is treated.
"The PM sent the message that he wanted the foreign secretary to assume some of his responsibilities where appropriate," his spokesman said on Tuesday.
He added that if Raab also became ill, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak would step in to deputize for him.
Raab told the BBC that he would deputize for the prime minister "where necessary," adding that "there is an incredibly strong team spirit behind the prime minister."
The UK's chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, told the BBC the whole cabinet would lead the country's response to the virus in Johnson's absence.
"We're all working together to implement the plan that the prime minister set out to make sure we can marshal all the resources of government and this country to fight this invisible enemy," Gove said.
Several of Johnson's senior aides are also experiencing symptoms of the virus.
Johnson spent over a week in self-isolation after developing COVID-19 symptoms before he was taken to the hospital on Sunday for tests.
His condition worsened later in the day, prompting doctors to move him into intensive care.
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