BORIS Johnson is fighting on amid his hospital admission for Coronavirus.
His father Stanley Johnson said Boris “almost took one for the team” but will need a few weeks rest before he can “pick up the reins” at Number 10.
The Prime Minister has returned to a private ward at St Thomas’ Hospital in London after spending three nights in intensive care being treated for symptoms of COVID-19.
Mr Johnson was in “very good spirits” after being discharged from ICU, Downing Street has said.
In the latest medical update, a No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery.”
The PM is generally in good health, and as he has not needed to be put on a ventilator “he is likely to be able to bounce back more quickly”, a doctor has said.
He added: “It’ll still be a few weeks before he’s feeling like his old self though.”
“Doctors and nurses will be aiming to get Mr Johnson home as soon as possible”
A doctor said added that it takes at least a week to recover for every day that someone has been in intensive care, and advice to patients includes staying active, eating and drinking well, and building up strength gradually.
In an interview on Friday, Mr Johnson’s father said the whole family is “amazingly grateful” for the efforts of the NHS and for the huge outpouring of support for his son.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that his son’s illness had underlined the seriousness of the pandemic.
“To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now,” Mr Johnson Senior said.
“This is pretty straightforward now,” he went on.
“He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit, but I don’t think you can say this is out of the woods now.
“He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.”
Mr Johnson Snr’s comments are likely to be taken as a further indication that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will continue to deputise for the PM in the coming days.
Ministers have been at pains to stress that the business of government will continue while Mr Johnson is treated and recovers from his illness.
Professor Duncan Young, an ICU consultant, said staff will be monitoring the PM’s need for oxygen, and assessing when he is able to go home.
The PM was admitted to hospital last Sunday evening for tests due to suffering continuing symptoms of Covid-19, having tested positive for the virus 10 days earlier.
He now appears to be on the road to recovery.
