Boris Johnson tests positive for Covid-19

[equationgirl]

The BBC claims he's thanked the NHS for his care (unlikely, unless he's had a damascene conversion, though he damn well should) and that he hasn't had any clinical trial drugs (if he hasn't, nobody will).

 

[elbows]

The BBC claims he's thanked the NHS for his care (unlikely, unless he's had a damascene conversion, though he damn well should) and that he hasn't had any clinical trial drugs (if he hasn't, nobody will).

There are still gaps in that though - the blood of recovered victims is one possible treatment option that has shown some promise, and would not count as a drug.

 

[equationgirl]

Yes, I read about that as a potential treatment, also HCQ won't be a clinical trial drug either?

 

[elbows]

Yes, I read about that as a potential treatment, also HCQ won't be a clinical trial drug either?

I suppose it depends on the exact language used. There are all manner of treatments including drugs that could be part of proper clinical trials, but there is another way a patient could be given the same drugs without actually being enrolled on a proper clinical trial - compassionate use of drugs for unlicensed purposes is a thing.

 

[Kaka Tim]

"continues to improve" - another placeholder statement. I note the lack of specifics like - "his temperature has come down" "is breathing a lot easier" "is laughing and joking". I would also think he could be under heavy sedation (is that standard for those in ICU?) - so probably not in a place to register messages of support. Could be wrong - but I doubt he is coming out of ICU for some days yet. Is it still being described as "precautionary" intensive care btw?

 

[elbows]

The 'in good spirits' line has been relied on for rather a long time too.

 

[Raheem]

The BBC claims he's thanked the NHS for his care (unlikely, unless he's had a damascene conversion, though he damn well should)

Think "Thank you very much. Now, where were we? Ah yes, fuck you!" would be fairly in character.

 

[SpookyFrank]

The 'in good spirits' line has been relied on for rather a long time too.

Johnson's access to good spirits has never been something I've been overly concerned about. He's probably got an IV of the brandy they pickled Lord Nelson in.

 

[lefteri]

There are still gaps in that though - the blood of recovered victims is one possible treatment option that has shown some promise, and would not count as a drug.

for a moment there i thought you were suggesting that johnson was a vampire!

 

[elbows]

Using data that is 3 days more up to date than the data used in that graph, I can see that so far the reported hospital deaths per day in England has reached 561 deaths per day at its highest. However this data lags, so I expect that the number has gone higher than that already in April, but I have to wait more days for that data to come through.

Just a final illustration of this point - using the data that came out this afternoon, I would not say 561 any more, I would now say that number for England is 604, on April 4th, but that too is likely to change as further data for that period comes in.

 

[brogdale]

So speaking to a family member last night who works at a senior level within the NHS, their coworker is good friends with a cabinet member, apparently BJ collapsed Sunday evening and was in very serious condition. Also certain advisor to the PM allegedly has a cancer diagnosis. Make of that as you will. Obviously, second hand evidence to me but fwiw I have no reason to doubt.

Although that sounds a bit too close to a FB-stylee, bloke down the pub tale ....in all seriousness, at some point the story of just how ill/near death Johnson was when admitted will eventually come out.

 

[maomao]

Although that sounds a bit too close to a FB-stylee, bloke down the pub tale ....in all seriousness, at some point the story of just how ill/near death Johnson was when admitted will eventually come out.

Or just how dead

 

[Wilf]

apparently they played his favourite song on world at one. Whats next, a fucking shrine? In case you didn't see its 'here comes the sun' by the beatles, a boring choice.

'I've stubbed me toe, could you play something by Killing Joke for me on Newsnight? Maybe not I am the Virus'.

 

[MrCurry]

"continues to improve" - another placeholder statement. I note the lack of specifics like - "his temperature has come down" "is breathing a lot easier" "is laughing and joking". I would also think he could be under heavy sedation (is that standard for those in ICU?) - so probably not in a place to register messages of support. Could be wrong - but I doubt he is coming out of ICU for some days yet. Is it still being described as "precautionary" intensive care btw?

I’m taking all these somewhat vague, positive sounding “updates” which don’t actually say anything definitive as a sign that the PR team have no news to give, but feel the need to put something out. No doubt we are close to the point where the updates will begin to reflect real news when it eventually happens, be that positive or negative. Either Boris is now breathing unaided and “expected to make a full recovery”, or Boris has taken a turn for the worse and Doctors are now “seriously concerned”.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I’m taking all these somewhat vague, positive sounding “updates” which don’t actually say anything definitive as a sign that the PR team have no news to give, but feel the need to put something out. No doubt we are close to the point where the updates will begin to reflect real news when it eventually happens, be that positive or negative. Either Boris is now breathing unaided and “expected to make a full recovery”, or Boris has taken a turn for the worse and Doctors are now “seriously concerned”.

Totally agree, and it could be days before we know if he's taken a turn for the better or worst, that's the nature of C-19 & the limited treatment available.

I don't get all these posts banging on about them withholding information, very bizarre behaviour.

 

[SpookyFrank]

"continues to improve" lol - totally meaningless

Indeed, especially when there are those who would in this context consider rapid decompostion an improvement.

 

[The39thStep]

Totally agree, and it could be days before we know if he's taken a turn for the better or worst, that's the nature of C-19 & the limited treatment available.

I don't get all these posts banging on about them withholding information, very bizarre behaviour.

I get a sense that the situation we are brings out the worse in speculation to the point of near conspiracy tbh

 

[Sprocket.]

Indeed, I have said before Johnson would have saved a lot of faffing about
if he had just stayed in the fridge!

 

[Saul Goodman]

for a moment there i thought you were suggesting that johnson was a vampire!

A leech, would be more a more accurate description.

 

[Sprocket.]

(((Leeches)))

 

[lefteri]

A leech, would be more a more accurate description.

leeches have their uses though..

 

[JimW]

Isn't the prescribed Bullingdon therapy the blood of orphan peasant children?

 

[Lucy Fur]

Although that sounds a bit too close to a FB-stylee, bloke down the pub tale ....in all seriousness, at some point the story of just how ill/near death Johnson was when admitted will eventually come out.

Yeah I know, I hesitated before I posted, but hey, you know what you know so publish and be damned.

 

[ska invita]

Well its nearly 5pm and it doesn't sound like he has sat up today, although as has been said above, this might be the improvement being alluded to by the spokesperson

 

[Gerry1time]

There are still gaps in that though - the blood of recovered victims is one possible treatment option that has shown some promise, and would not count as a drug.

A tory living off the blood of the workers? Probably not newsworthy enough to report.

 

[lizzieloo]

This has done some good in my husband's family, my in-laws have now decided that carrying on regardless isn't sensible at all, hopefully it will have had that effect on lots of other folk too.

We're going to do their shopping for them in a bit for the first time, they're in their very late 70s.

 

[teuchter]

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson's health continues to improve, says No 10

Boris Johnson has spent his third night in intensive care being treated for Covid-19.

www.bbc.co.uk

"continues to improve"

 

[platinumsage]

If his worst point was in ICU on oxygen but not on a ventilator, and he's currently in ICU on oxygen but not on a ventilator, you have to wonder for how many more days he can "continue to improve" while remaining in ICU on oxygen.

 

[platinumsage]

I don't get all these posts banging on about them withholding information, very bizarre behaviour.

Have you seen the threads about the Queen and Prince Philip?

 

[ska invita]

If his worst point was in ICU on oxygen but not on a ventilator, and he's currently in ICU on oxygen but not on a ventilator, you have to wonder for how many more days he can "continue to improve" while remaining in ICU on oxygen.

Quite. This is becoming quite Pravda-esque