Carrie Symonds was ‘only person in No10 who cared about Boris’ welfare’ as PM faced coronavirus battle

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CARRIE Symonds was the “only person in No10 who cared about Boris’ welfare” after he was diagnosed with coronavirus, a cabinet minister has said.

As Boris Johnson condition deteriorated it was claimed his team tried to assure the country all was well – but only his fiancé, who is pregnant and had to isolate separately, really cared about him.

Cabinet ministers have said Carrie is the one who really cares for Boris’ welfare
Carrie previously shared a photo of herself in isolation at a flat in South London

Ms Symonds left the flat the pair share in No11 just a few days before he was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Ms Symonds, who is expecting a baby in summer, began showing coronavirus symptoms herself and is thought to be isolated in their south London flat.

She said on Twitter: “I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus. I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend.”

She added: “being pregnant with COVID-19 is obviously worrying”.

Friends of Ms Symonds said she is “distraught” and “in tears” at not being able to be there for her fiancé.

Her physical absence from the PM’s life meant special advisors who were frantic to prove Mr Johnson was not seriously unwell were left to care for him.

One cabinet minister told The Times: “Boris was doing worse than people thought. There’s a real question of who was looking after him. The only person in that building that really cared for his welfare was Carrie, and she had to leave.”

Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ hospital on Sunday night, before then being transferred to the intensive care unit after his condition worsened on Monday.

He has had oxygen treatment but has not required ventilation.

Foreign Secretary and stand-in PM Dominic Raab wished the PM well: “He is not just the prime minister. For all of us in cabinet, he is not just our boss. He is also a colleague and he is also our friend.”

While Ms Symonds couldn’t be there to care for his wellbeing, his private secretary Martin Reynolds continued to fill his parliamentary red boxes while he was sick.

Mr Johnson continued to show his face via video conference and videos on Twitter to try and quell rumours he was sicker than Downing Street was letting on.

Cabinet ministers said they were concerned he was being overworked, when he should be resting.

One said: “Boris doesn’t like to admit to illness. His instinct if asked how he is is to say he’s doing brilliantly”.

The PM even pushed himself to stand on the doorstep of Downing Street last Thursday night for a minute of applause for the key workers who are keeping the country running and saving lives.

Instead of his famous boyish grin, he grimaced as he clapped.

He had to announce on Friday he would not be leaving isolation, and those around him continued to say it was only because he had a mild fever.

On Thursday night rumours began to circle that a bed had been prepared for him at St Thomas’ – rumours denied by government spokesmen.

But by Sunday, when his doctors saw him by video call they became so worried for his health they told him to go to hospital.

Boris was visibly unwell when he clapped for key workers last week

Boris posted videos of himself trying to reassure the nation

Even after his admission, No10 continued to say it was a “precautionary measure” and said the PM was receiving red boxes in hospital.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said he had seen patients sick with the virus able to continue very complicated work on Monday night.

Hours later he was admitted to the ICU.

One senior official said: “It was shocking, really shocking, how fast things moved.”

Only two weeks ago, as the scale of the outbreak began to dawn on Brits, people in Downing Street weren’t following their own social distancing advice.

Senior ministers, officials and health advisers responsible for the COVID-19 strategy piled into rooms for hours at a time.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was diagnosed with coronavirus and Professor Whitty began showing symptoms.

My Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings hasn’t been seen in public after he went into self-isolation with symptoms as well.

A number of other junior officials and advisors have also fallen ill.