Boris Johnson: Coronavirus like unexpected and invisible mugger

The British Prime Minister reflected on his own close-run experience with Covid-19 following his return to work.

The British Prime Minister has labelled coronavirus an “invisible mugger” after his own personal experience facing off the deadly illness.

Boris Johnson

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The 55-year-old spent three nights in intensive care following his admittance on April 5 to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London, and later revealed his struggle with Covid-19 “could have gone either way” during that period.

Speaking outside Downing Street

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He said the UK was on its way to tackling coronavirus after social distancing measures had ensured the NHS had not been overwhelmed during the peak of the infections.

Mr Johnson said: “If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger – which I can tell you from personal experience it is – then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, another leading figure in the battle against Covid-19, responded to Mr Johnson’s public appearance, tweeting: “Great to see the boss back and on top form.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

“Most who have been as poorly as Boris Johnson with Covid-19 and a patient for a week in intensive care would be off work for at least three months to fully recover their strength and repair their immune system,” the health minister tweeted.

“Our PM is back after just three weeks. Good luck boss.”