Boris Johnson makes first speech on return to work following coronavirus recovery

Boris Johnson said that the public is at the point of ‘maximum risk’ of coronavirus however sought to reassure people that the UK would ‘emerge stronger than ever before’ despite being unable to predict when lockdown will end.
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The Prime Minister made his first speech outside Number 10 following his return to work today after being ill with coronavirus for the past three weeks.

In his address Johnson described coronavirus as “the biggest challenge the country had faced since the war” and thanked the public for adhering to lockdown measures.

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He also said that the UK was “beginning to turn the tide” and “making progress, with fewer hospital admissions and few patients in ICU.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, as he resumes working after spending two weeks recovering from Covid-19. PA Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA WirePrime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, as he resumes working after spending two weeks recovering from Covid-19. PA Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, as he resumes working after spending two weeks recovering from Covid-19. PA Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

However, he warned that the UK was now at a crucial point of “maximum risk” where it was essential to keep sticking to lockdown rules in order to prevent further outbreak of the disease.

Johnson said he refused to "throw away the sacrifice of the British people" by easing lockdown restrictions too quickly.

The Prime Minister said that he sympathised with business and “wealth creators” and that the government was eager to “fire up the engines” of the UK economy as soon as possible.

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However he was unable to give a date when lockdown restrictions would be lifted.

"We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow, or even when, those changes will be made," Johnson said.

He added: “

"Clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days. These decisions will be taken with the maximum possible transparency."