Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday Britain “will defeat” coronavirus, in a video message released by Downing Street as he left hospital following intensive care treatment for the disease.
“We will defeat this coronavirus and defeat ittogether,” the 55-year-old leader said, seated and dressed in a suit andtie.
“Though the struggle is by no means over, we are nowmaking progress in this incredible national battle.”
Johnson thanked the state-funded NHS medics and staff fortheir hard work through the coronavirus pandemic as he was discharged fromhospital, saying he owed them his life after testing positive for the deadlyvirus over two weeks ago.
Earlier, in his first public statement since being moved outof the intensive care unit of the hospital, the 55-year-old UK prime ministersaid: “I can’t thank them enough, I owe them my life.”
Johnson, who completed a week in hospital on Sunday afterbeing shifted there with persistent COVID-19 symptoms, had been making “verygood progress” while on the hospital ward. He was able to take short walks ashis doctors monitored his recovery after being moved out of intensive care andwas watching films and doing puzzles in his hospital bed.
Johnson’s fiancée Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with theirfirst child, is said to have sent him letters and baby scans to lift hisspirits during his time in hospital. Thousands of get-well cards have alsopoured in for him since he went into self-isolation after testing positive forcoronavirus over two weeks ago.
UK Health officials say 657 more people in England have diedfrom the new coronavirus, raising the total U.K. Deaths over 10,000.The 657 deaths comeon top of the 9,875 deaths of people with COVID-19 in British hospitalsannounced Saturday.