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Egypt reports 149 new virus cases – as it happened
This article is more than 4 years old
New toll comes as UK prime minister, who has coronavirus, has been moved into hospital intensive care
Updated
Mon 6 Apr 2020 19.29 EDT
First published on Sun 5 Apr 2020 20.41 EDTKey events
- Trump on Johnson: 'Intensive care is big stuff'
- Coronavirus fight will continue, vows interim head of UK's government
- UK prime minister placed in intensive care
- Summary
- Italy reports 636 new deaths from Covid-19
- Coronavirus is EU's biggest ever crisis - Merkel
- UK reports 439 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours
- Officials prepare US for "peak death week"
- Germany considers mandatory face masks
- Summary
- Deaths in Spain decline for fourth consecutive day
- Austria announces plans to end lockdown
- Indonesia reports biggest daily jump in new cases
- Summary
- Germany reports fourth straight drop in daily cases
- Summary
- British Airways suspends flights direct flights between UK and Japan
- Japan expected to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday
- South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases for first time since 29 February
- Summary
Live feed
Key events
- Trump on Johnson: 'Intensive care is big stuff'
- Coronavirus fight will continue, vows interim head of UK's government
- UK prime minister placed in intensive care
- Summary
- Italy reports 636 new deaths from Covid-19
- Coronavirus is EU's biggest ever crisis - Merkel
- UK reports 439 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours
- Officials prepare US for "peak death week"
- Germany considers mandatory face masks
- Summary
- Deaths in Spain decline for fourth consecutive day
- Austria announces plans to end lockdown
- Indonesia reports biggest daily jump in new cases
- Summary
- Germany reports fourth straight drop in daily cases
- Summary
- British Airways suspends flights direct flights between UK and Japan
- Japan expected to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday
- South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases for first time since 29 February
- Summary
Just back to Donald Trump’s marathon press conference and he is fielding questions on the US naval commander who was fired over his coronavirus memo, suggesting he doesn’t think his life should be “destroyed” as a result, Sam Levin writes:
He made a mistake. He shouldn’t be sending letter. He’s the captain … you don’t send letters and then it leaks into a newspaper. I may get involved ...If I can help two good people, I’m going to help him
The commander was stood down over an email in which he aired concerns about the welfare of the sailors on his ship which was docked near Guam. He has subsequently tested positive to Covid-19.
The former Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith, now Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park and minister of state in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has tweeted his support for Johnson.
Boris is a one of a kind. A fighter, a winner and a giant ray of sunshine in the grey world of politics. He is a natural leader and the country needs him back on his feet.
— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) April 6, 2020
All my thoughts for him and his loved ones @carriesymonds
The former US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has tweeted a message of support for Boris Johnson.
Sending good energy and prayers to @BorisJohnson during this time. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Your friends in America are cheering you on! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/rkEMdrSU62
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 6, 2020
The Guardian’s David Smith asked Trump about Boris Johnson and whether the UK PM had been wrong about his earlier relaxed attitude to social distancing.
Trump said:
Boris was looking at it differently. He was looking at it earlier. He was looking at it like: ride it out. There were many people thinking about riding it out. Meaning, you know, whatever it is, it is. But then you see what starts to happen then the numbers become monumental, and they decided not to do that.
Trump has repeatedly dodged questions about the inspector general report out today that said hospitals have not had access to the tests they need. Trump has interrupted questions about it, asking for the name of the inspector general and date of appointment. The president has attempted to suggest, without evidence, that the inspector general behind the report is politically motivated against Trump.
Here are Donald Trump’s comments on Boris Johnson:
And you can see messages of support from global leaders to the UK PM here:
Trump was asked for more details on the medicines he said he had sent to Boris Johnson’s doctors, but he gives few more details, and does not name the companies involved.
Well it’s a very, it’s a very complex treatment of things that they’ve just recently developed, and that they have a lot of experience with something else but recently for this. And .. they’ve already concurred. They’ve had meetings with the doctors, and we’ll see whether or not they want to go that route. But when you’re in intensive care it’s a big deal. So they’re there and they’re ready.
Trump on Johnson: 'Intensive care is big stuff'
Back to Trump’s briefing, where the president is now taking questions. First up about Boris Johnson. He says:
“I found Boris to be a fantastic person, a fantastic warm strong smart guy. He loves his country, you see that. He fought like hell for his country. But intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff...”
When asked about the news of the UK prime minister meant the White House would reconsider its own safety procedures, Trump said: “Mike had his test ... I had my test ... We’re here and here you are.” He said because of “questions like that”, the White House will probably do more tests, which he said are so “quick and easy”.
The UK’s former justice secretary, David Gauke, has said his thoughts are with Boris Johnson, his fiancée Carrie Symonds and Johnson’s family.
I wish him well in the personal battle he faces. I know him reasonably well. He’s someone who, even when you disagree with him, he’s a very charming, likeable figure as the public well knows.
We need him back, on a personal level and for the good of the country.
Gauke told the BBC that Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Johnson, will have an experienced and supportive team around him.
He knows what he wants to do and gets on and delivers that. He’ll be absolutely on top of the detail.