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Coronavirus: Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to work after illness

boris-johnson-standing-next-to-fenceImage source, Getty Images

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given a speech outside 10 Downing Street as he returned to work after spending the last three weeks unwell with coronavirus.

Mr Johnson spent a week in St Thomas' Hospital in London, including three nights in intensive care, after being taken into hospital on 5 April after his symptoms got worse.

Since then he has been recovering at the prime minister's official country home in Buckinghamshire called Chequers.

But the prime minister arrived back at Number 10 Downing Street on Sunday evening to take charge of the UK's response to the outbreak.

What did the prime minister say?

Media caption,

Watch again: Boris Johnson's full statement outside 10 Downing Street

Mr Johnson praised the British people for their patience and community spirit as he got back to work.

He said there were "real signs now that we are passing through the peak" of the virus and that he understands the frustrations of lockdown - but he warned that the rules must be stuck to, to make sure the virus doesn't spread again.

There has been a lot of talk recently about how and when the UK would move away from lockdown, but Mr Johnson said that now wasn't the time for that and said: "I refuse to throw away all the effort and sacrifice of the British people," and risk a new spread of the virus.

He also promised to be clear about the next part of the government's plan and promised to work with politicians from other parties.

Trump: PM back to 'the old Boris'

Image source, Getty Images

The prime minister's deputy, Dominic Raab, had said Mr Johnson's return to work would be a "boost for the country" and that the PM was "raring to go".

Ahead of this return to work, Mr Johnson spoke with both the Queen and US President, Donald Trump, last week.

President Trump talked about the phone call in a briefing to news organisations, saying: "I will tell you, he sounded incredible, he was ready to go.

"It's like the old Boris, tremendous energy, tremendous drive."