After returning to Downing Street: Johnson urges patience

Prime Minister Johnson is under pressure after he has recovered from Corona – as calls for relaxation are getting louder. But Johnson urged caution: a second wave of illness threatens.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson initially rejected early loosening of UK exit restrictions. “I understand your impatience,” said Johnson, who is back in business today after recovering from Covid 19. The country is approaching the end of the first phase in the fight against the corona virus. However, one has to accept that a second wave of illnesses can also occur.

There is a risk of losing control and the rate of infection rising above one again. “This would not only lead to a new wave of death and illness, but also to an economic disaster.”

“The tide is turning”

“I know every day that the virus brings new sorrow and sadness to households across the country,” he said in front of his office on Downing Street in London. Britain continues to face the greatest challenge since World War II. But the country will emerge from it stronger than ever.

Johnson thanks people for observing the curfew. The Prime Minister went on to say that the pandemic is well on its way. The tide is turning. Johnson compared the virus to a predator: “This is when we started wrestling it together.”

At the same time, however, it was also a moment of “maximum risk” – acting too quickly could negate the efforts made to date. “I know it’s difficult, and I want to start the economy up as soon as possible,” said Johnson. “But I refuse to throw all the efforts and victims of the British people overboard and risk a second major outbreak, a large loss of life and overwhelming the NHS.”

Internal government power struggle

In the economy and also in his own party, calls have recently been made to relax the measures to contain the corona virus. British media had also repeatedly reported on quarrels in the cabinet: between the hawks, who want to ease the state of emergency quickly and boost the economy, and the pigeons, who think the risk of such a strategy is still too great and want to adhere to the initial restrictions . Johnson was originally included in the falcon camp. Now he sounds more like a dove. His personal experience may have changed him: the experience of barely surviving the corona virus.

Treatment in the intensive care unit

Johnson was severely affected by the new coronavirus-induced lung disease Covid-19 and had to be treated in the intensive care unit in the meantime. After he was released on April 13, he thanked the hospital staff for saving his life.

In the past two weeks, he has been recovering at the Checkers government mansion near London. He was represented by Foreign Minister Dominic Raab. At his first public appearance since his recovery, Johnson’s face looked a little leaner than before and a little out of breath, but otherwise as energetic as before.

More and more dead, too few tests

The relatively strict exit restrictions in the UK have been in effect since March 23 and will continue until May 7th. The British are hardly allowed to leave their homes. The purchase of essential items such as food and medication is permitted. All shops that do not serve basic services are closed. Sport is only allowed once a day and only with members of the same household. Meetings of more than two people are prohibited.

The United Kingdom is one of the worst affected countries in Europe by the pandemic. The official death toll rose to more than 20,000 over the weekend. However, the actual number is likely to be significantly higher, since among other things the victims in nursing homes were not counted. The Covid 19 tests are still slow: 100,000 tests per day should be carried out by the end of April – but Great Britain is still a long way from that at the moment.

With information from Jens-Peter Marquardt, ARD Studio London

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