Boris Johnson said he’s tested positive for coronavirus, the latest development in the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, which had claimed nearly 25,000 lives as of Friday.
Johnson made the announcement in a tweet, and said he’s self-isolating. There was also a brief press release.
“I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus”, he declared.
Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.
I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.
Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9Te6aFP0Ri
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 27, 2020
The UK now has 11,816 cases (including Boris), and 578 deaths. Would-be homebuyers have been encouraged to hold off until the lockdown is lifted, and by some estimates, sales are expected to dive by 60% in the second quarter.
Infections continued to climb in the US, which surpassed China on Thursday evening quite literally in the middle of Donald Trump’s daily coronavirus press briefing. Trump says he and Xi pledged to cooperate in the fight against the epidemic, despite the US president only recently agreeing to stop calling COVID-19 “The China Virus”.
Spain lost 769 people in a single day, marking the deadliest 24 hours yet for the country, which is one of the five nations globally with the largest outbreaks.
Germany’s case total surpassed 43,000 on Friday, with 262 deaths. Der Spiegel reported that according to an internal study, nearly three-quarters of the German population could get the virus, although the death toll would be “just” 12,000.
“The Interior Ministry’s strategy paper recommends following South Korea in aggressively testing for COVID-19 and using smartphone location data to help trace people who have come into contact with those infected with the flu-like disease”, The New York Times says, summarizing. “Scientists who worked on the study calculated that around one million people in Germany would be infected, but only 12,000 would die”.
Angela Merkel – who self-quarantined last week – isn’t adopting any Trumpian rhetoric about easing containment protocols, that’s for sure. “We’re not even close to where we can see if the measures are working”, she said, via teleconference.
In Iran, there are now 32,000 cases and 2,300 deaths. As of Friday, travel between cities is banned as are all gatherings. It’s worth noting that New York alone now has more cases than Iran.
South Africa kicked off a three-week lockdown after losing its first two citizens to the virus and Indonesia recorded its largest one-day rise in new cases yet. Infections in both countries topped 1,000.
Finally, it’s worth noting that when it comes to protecting yourself, it’s at least worth considering the advice of healthcare professionals.
On March 3, Boris Johnson declared the virus wouldn’t stop him from shaking hands, even with people who are hospitalized with symptoms. “I’m shaking hands”, Boris insisted, in response to a question about greeting visiting diplomats.
“I was at a hospital the other night where I think a few there were actually coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody”, he added. “You’ll be pleased to know. And I continue to shake hands”.
“We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning, you’re going to come to me and go ‘Please, please, we can’t win anymore.’ You’ve heard this one. You’ll say ‘Please, Mr. President, we beg you sir, we don’t want to win anymore. It’s too much.”