標題
Britain’s battle against the coronavirusBoris Johnson is admitted to intensive care with covid-19
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is standing in for him
第一段
「HI, FOLKS,」 DECLARED Boris Johnson cheerfully in a video posted to Facebook and Twitter on April 3rd. Britain’s prime minister declared that he was feeling 「better」 after spending a week in self-isolation with covid-19. His seclusion would have to continue because he was suffering from a 「minor symptom」, ie, a temperature. But on April 5th, he was taken to hospital—a 「purely precautionary step」, officials insisted. A day later, Downing Street announced that the prime minister had been taken into intensive care. It was still a precaution, they said.
第二段
Mr Johnson is the first head of a Western government to be hospitalised for covid-19 in the course of a pandemic that has infected more than 1m people and killed more than 70,000—more than 5,000 Britons among them. His illness is proof, if any were needed, that the novel coronavirus can strike anyone.
第三段
The deterioration of the prime minister’s medical condition has unsettled British politics. Who is running the government as it battles to control the pandemic? Downing Street said Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, was deputising for Mr Johnson 「where necessary」. Mr Raab, for his part, implied that Mr Johnson was still setting the policy for the government. 「The prime minister is in safe hands with a brilliant team at St Thomas』 hospital,」 Mr Raab told the BBC. 「The focus of the government will continue to be...at the prime minister's direction, all the plans for making sure that we can defeat coronavirus and pull the country through this challenge, will be taken forward.」
第七段
The government has faced criticism over the delay in ordering the closure of shops and schools, the paucity of testing for coronavirus infections and shortages of protective equipment for health-care workers. Nevertheless Mr Johnson’s approval ratings have risen since the crisis took hold in the middle of last month, in common with leaders in other countries. And the news of his worsening condition has brought a flood of wishes for his speedy recovery, from allies and rivals alike. Among them was Sir Keir Starmer, the newly elected leader of the opposition Labour Party, who tweeted: 「Terribly sad news. All the country’s thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time.」