UK's Johnson 'owes his life' to doctors in fight against COVID-19

Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:04

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thanked the medics at central London's St Thomas Hospital, where he's recovering from COVID-19.

"I can't thank them enough. I owe them my life," Johnson said, while expressing his gratitude for the hospital staff.

It's his first comment since he moved out of intensive care.

His office announced that he "continues to make very good progress" and added that he has been able to take short walks between periods of rest.

During the daily government news briefing, interior minister Priti Patel said he needed time to rest and recover before returning to work.

Johnson was admitted to the hospital a week ago after complaining of persistent COVID-19 symptoms.

So far, the country has recorded more than 78,000 positive cases and over 9,800 deaths.

More from International

Air traffic control issue disrupts flights at major UK airports

Flights at major British airports were disrupted on Tuesday by a technical fault at air traffic control provider NATS, the latest in a series of failures that renewed questions about the resilience of Britain's aviation infrastructure.
At least 73 injured after Houthi rebels attack Saudi civilian and energy facilities

At least 73 civilians have been injured after Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a number of civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia's southern region on Tuesday, state media confirmed.
UK, France and Canada sanction Israeli West Bank settlements

Britain, France and Canada on Tuesday moved to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as a wider group of countries signalled further steps to defend the two-state solution amid mounting concern over settlement expansion.
Suspect detained after sabotage attacks on Germany power grid

German police have detained a 48-year-old man suspected of carrying out a series of sabotage attacks on the country's electricity grid, police and prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Nepal rescue focused on workers trapped in three tunnels

Rescuers in Nepal are focusing on three hydropower project tunnels where they believe dozens of workers could be trapped, authorities said on Tuesday, two weeks after a devastating flood killed hundreds and left thousands missing.