BORIS Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds have been seen walking dog Dilyn today – as the PM continues to recover from coronavirus.
The couple were spotted taking their pet pooch for a stroll after the PM was discharged from hospital yesterday afternoon.
The couple are expecting their first child together in the coming weeks – and are engaged to be married. It is believed to be the first time they have seen each other in weeks.
He had another coronavirus test before leaving hospital on Sunday, No10 said today, which came back negative.
While briefly stopping off at No10 last night he recorded a heartfelt video message praising the ICU unit’s doctors — who had watched over him for three tense days and nights.
And the PM said he “will be grateful for the rest of my life” for their decisions.
Downing Street is planning for Boris to be absent for several weeks, and is not expected to do any work at all for the moment.
“Chequers is considered to be a suitable place for the PM to continue his recovery,” No10 added.
“He was only released from hospital yesterday and any decisions he makes in relation to returning to government work will be following the advice from his medical team.”
He has spoken to Dominic Raab, who is deputising for him, over the weekend.
A No 10 source said: “He’s only just beginning his post-hospital recovery, it’s just too soon to give an indication on timing.
“He has been told he needs to rest and recover.”
Meanwhile Dominic Raab will continue to chair the daily Covid-19 meetings in his absence, and will start reviewing evidence of how the lockdown is working.
Last week he said it was “too soon” to ease the measures and warned they were likely to be extended.
Ministers have to sign off an official decision before Thursday.
Today is the three-week deadline of the coronavirus lockdown – and Boris promised a review after to this to look at the next steps.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this morning this week’s review of the lockdown is not likely to result in restrictions being lifted in the near future.
“We must stick with it,” she said.
The UK is set to continue with the same approach from all four nations, but can take different measures if required.
The Times quoted an unnamed minister as saying it was important not to do “more damage”, and measures could be eased after another three weeks.
Downing Street said this afternoon: “We’re very alive to the social consequences of the lockdown.”
It comes as Spain and Italy are due to start easing their lockdown restrictions after the death rates began to fall.
Britain’s total dead hit 11,000 yesterday, with an extra 717 people losing their lives in the previous 24 hours.
A huge split has broken out about when the lockdown should be ended, it was reported yesterday.
Some want to begin to lift the restrictions after the first May bank holiday on Friday, May 8.
But others think that any changes should wait until after the second May bank holiday on Monday 25, and for other social distancing measures to stay in place for months to come.
Any lifting of the lockdown could see a second wave of cases hit the UK and put the NHS under pressure yet again.
Some members of the Cabinet want Boris to be involved in the decision – but others are insisting he rests and leaves the work to the rest of the Government.
One Cabinet source told The Telegraph: “The prime minister has to take that decision.
“Any lockdown will have huge implications, and the PM will be responsible for it, so he’s got to be the one taking that decision.”
Mr Raab has insisted the Cabinet has “collective” responsibility and will be able to make any decisions without the PM.
Another source said: “I don’t think the Cabinet wants to be pulling the prime minister out of his recovery and risking him getting worse.”
It comes as the Chancellor warned that the nation’s GDP could fall by as much as 30 per cent between April and June.
He is said to be incredibly concerned about the economic impact of the lockdown and want to look at ways to lift the measures as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, is also worried about the effect of children not being in school.
