Dominic Raab Standing In For Prime Minister Johnson 'When Necessary'

The Foreign secretary chaired the government's daily wuhanvirus meeting Tuesday. And he expressed "total confidence" in the arrangements put in place by Prime minister Johnson to ensure effective running of the operation to combat wuhanvirus pandemic.

During the daily wuhanvirus briefing, Secretary Raab said, "as you'd know the Prime minister asked me to deputize for him whilst he recovers. And in line with the Prime minister's instructions, this morning I chaired the meeting of senior ministers tackling coronavirus. And this afternoon I chaired an update for members of the cabinet."

Addressing questions about his own role, the Secretary said, "Well first of all, decision making by government is made by collective cabinet responsibility, so that is the same as before.

But we've got very clear directions, very clear instructions from the prime minister, and we're focused with total unity and total resolve on implementing them so that when he's back, I hope in very short order, we will have made the progress that he would expect and that the country would expect." 

Raab revealed that Prime minister Johnson "remained stable overnight," and is "breathing without any assistance." He also said the Prime minister "remains in good spirits."

Messages have poured in from across the UK and around the world wishing the Prime minister quick recovery. The Royal family tweeted, "Earlier today The Queen sent a message to Carrie Symonds and to the Johnson family. Her Majesty said they were in her thoughts and that she wished the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery."

During his wuhanvirus press conference at the White house, President Trump expressed America's well wishes to the Prime minister.

"I wanna express our nation's well wishes to Prime minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus," the President said.

He added, "all Americans are praying for him. He's a friend of mine. He's a great gentleman, and a great leader."

The President revealed at his press conference Tuesday, that London called to ask for 200 ventilators. "The UK called today and they wanted to know would it be possible to get 200 and we’re going to work it out, we’ve got to work it out. They’ve been great partners. United Kingdom. And we’re gonna work it out for them. So they wanted 200, they needed them desperately."