Boris Johnson first developed mild symptoms of coronavirus – a persistent cough and a temperature – on Thursday. The prime minister was tested soon after and, by Friday, he was confirmed as the first G7 leader to be infected with Covid-19.
The news for the government rapidly worsened: health secretary Matt Hancock also revealed on Friday that he had tested positive for the virus and chief medical officer Chris Whitty went into self-isolation after displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
The diagnoses of Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock have raised concerns inside Whitehall about the prospect of more cabinet ministers becoming ill and whether the government can continue to wage an effective response to the coronavirus crisis.
But inside 10 Downing Street, the news that the prime minister was ill was received calmly. After getting his test results at midnight on Thursday, Mr Johnson informed senior staff before posting an upbeat video on Friday morning in which he said he would continue to work as normal.
“I am working from home, I’m self-isolating and that’s entirely the right thing to do,” he said. “But be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.”
Downing Street officials were eager to stress that it was business as usual for Mr Johnson despite his illness. “He’s getting on with the job,” said his spokesperson. “Boris is definitely still leading on this very important task,” said one Downing Street insider.
On Friday, Mr Johnson chaired the daily morning meeting of key government figures dealing with the crisis, which is now conducted via video conference.
Along with Mr Hancock, who is working from his London home, the call included chancellor Rishi Sunak, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, foreign secretary Dominic Raab and cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill. Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Valance were also involved.
Mr Johnson will continue to live in the flat above 11 Downing Street and use the chancellor’s office in the building. While in quarantine, the prime minister’s meals will be delivered outside the door to his flat along with government papers.
In recent weeks, Number 10 and 11 Downing Street have been sparsely staffed as officials have worked from home as much as possible. “The only people here now are those who need to be,” said on official. “Everyone who can work from home already is.” Cabinet meetings will continue to be held via video conference.
But after the diagnoses of Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock, one cabinet minister questioned whether due care had been taken in adhering to the government’s social distancing measures. “Some ministers have been very reluctant to do the social distancing in practice,” said the minister.
Another cabinet minister, referring to emergency meetings of ministers and officials about the crisis in a Cabinet Office briefing room dubbed Cobra, said: “It did get ridiculous that we were still crammed into Cobra meetings in the secure briefing room and people are pretty darn close to each other. Only in the last day or so have people been taking a more serious approach.”
Some ministers are concerned about public perceptions if senior government figures are sidelined by the virus – particularly the medical and scientific experts led by Prof Whitty and Sir Patrick. “Boris and the boffins have kept this thing together,” said one government aide. “If Chris and Patrick are out of action, people will start to get worried.”
If Mr Johnson becomes too ill to lead the government, Mr Raab, as first secretary of state and de facto deputy prime minister, is expected to take over on a temporary basis.
Mr Gove sidestepped a question at the daily Downing Street press conference on Friday as to what would happen should Mr Johnson have to stop work.
He instead highlighted how the prime minister had chaired a video conference on Friday that approved plans to increase testing of frontline health workers for the virus. Mr Johnson was “marshalling the resources” of the National Health Service, business and universities, said Mr Gove.
Whitehall officials said there was no formal pecking order of ministers that would determine who stood in for Mr Johnson if he was unable to work.
“It’s not like America with a presidential line of succession,” said one official. “There’s no formal list so if this person is [unable to work], their responsibilities move along to another. It is all based on what the PM wants to do. He can designate certain people to fulfill certain duties.”
Whitehall insiders said the moves by Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock and Prof Whitty to self-isolate were intended to show that the government was following its own guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, and thereby maintain public confidence in the advice.
One ally of the health secretary said: “Hancock is not staying at home because he’s really unwell, it’s because he’s following guidance – the principle that if you don’t self-isolate, you could transmit [coronavirus] to someone else.”
While the two ministers and the chief medical officer have shown only mild symptoms of Covid-19, the plan in Number 10 is to keep going and hope that the rest of the cabinet is not taken ill.
Mr Johnson is taking inspiration from his hero, the wartime leader Winston Churchill. One ally of the prime minister said: “Churchill’s motto was always KBO: keep buggering on. That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
