Advertisement

Tuesday briefing: Dominic Raab steps up as Johnson ails

<span>Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA</span>
Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Top story: Johnson may need to be placed on a ventilator

Morning everyone. I’m Martin Farrer and these are the top stories this morning.

Dominic Raab has taken charge of running the country following the decision to move Boris Johnson to intensive care in St Thomas’ hospital in London after his coronavirus symptoms worsened significantly yesterday. A spokesperson for No 10 said the move was a “precaution” in case the prime minister needed to be placed on a ventilator. He is understood to have received oxygen through a mask since going to hospital on Sunday. Raab, the foreign secretary, attempted to reassure the public by telling the BBC last night that government business would continue. His elevation came after senior cabinet ministers became concerned that Johnson’s health meant he could no longer be in charge of the government’s response to the emergency. Our columnist Simon Jenkins warns that Johnson’s hospitalisation shows the machinery of government is malfunctioning.

Donald Trump led world leaders in sending his best wishes for Johnson’s recovery, adding that he was praying for his “good friend” and “incredible guy”. Others included Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau and Angela Merkel. Johnson also received messages of support from the new Labour leader Keir Starmer and his own predecessors Theresa May and David Cameron.

Johnson’s admission to intensive care shows that he has a severe case of the disease, our health editor writes. Around 5% of people with Covid-19 require treatment in ICU where a ventilator can help them breathe while their damaged lungs recover. And it comes as the Doctors’ Association UK warns that its members are being “bullied and shamed” into not wearing protective equipment during the crisis because of shortages. Some have been told to “hold their breath” while treating patients.

This week marks 100 days since the first report of an unknown illness affecting a number of people in Wuhan but today China recorded no deaths for the first time since January. The global death toll from Covid-19 has risen to almost 75,000 and there are now close to 1,375,000 cases. Here is our latest at-a-glance summary and we will have all the developments throughout the day on our coronavirus live blog.

There’s more in our Coronavirus Extra section further down … and here’s where you can find all our coverage of the outbreak – from breaking news to factchecks and advice.

* * *

Pell free – Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic in the world to have been found guilty of historical child sexual abuse, has been freed from prison after his convictions were quashed by the high court in Australia following a two-year legal saga. Sitting in Brisbane, the judges granted leave for Pell to appeal and ordered his immediate release. They said the jury in his trial should have entertained a doubt as to Pell’s guilt. The cardinal, a former financial controller of the Vatican, said he held “no ill will” towards his accuser, a former choirboy in Melbourne.

* * *

Quiz question – The writer of a new television drama about the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire cheating scandal says the couple at the centre of the story might not have been guilty. James Graham, whose show Quiz airs next week on ITV, says the case against army major Charles Ingram, his wife Diana and their coughing accomplice Tecwen Whittock – who were convicted of defrauding the show – might not be “black and white”. He says their accent and class meant they were more easily turned into “tabloid fodder” and claims new evidence points to their innocence.

* * *

Reef at risk – Australia’s most senior Great Barrier Reef scientist has issued a grim warning about the marine wonder, saying that it has suffered a third mass bleaching event in five years in a clear signal that “urgent help” is needed on climate change. Dr David Wachenfeld, chief scientist at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, told Guardian Australia: “My greatest fear is that people will lose hope for the reef. Without hope there’s no action.”

* * *

Brand Archewell – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to launch a new charitable organisation to replace the Sussex Royal brand. The couple said the new foundation will be called Archewell, revealing that the Greek word in the project, Arche – which means source of action – was also the inspiration behind the name of their son Archie.

Coronavirus Extra

World leaders have come together to urge the rich G20 nations to tackle the twin health and economic crises sparked by the pandemic. A group of 165 leaders called for an $8bn emergency fund to bolster health systems in poorer countries to prevent a second wave of global infections later in the year.

A minister in the Brazilian government has outraged China by suggesting that the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, was part of a plot for Beijing to become the world’s number one power.

A US navy official has apologised after calling the sacked captain of aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt “naive or stupid” for going public with his concerns about an outbreak of the virus on the ship. It came after Trump hinted he might reinstate Brett Crozier.

Lady Gaga is leading a Live Aid-style benefit concert to raise money for the WHO’s Covid-19 response fund and in celebration of health workers around the world. The show will be live-streamed on 18 April and will feature Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Alanis Morissette, Burna Boy, Elton John and many more stars.

Today in Focus podcast

The Guardian US reporter Erin McCormick charts the journey of the Zaandam cruise ship, which has docked in Florida after being stranded at sea with a Covid-19 outbreak.

Lunchtime read: Kirstie Allsopp on isolation, isolation, isolation

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp

The TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp discusses life during lockdown as she prepares to launch a new series on home crafts aimed at helping the rest of us while away time in isolation. She tells Emie Saner about how she keeps sane (“Call The Midwife”), growing up in a world of well-connected, upper middle-class privilege (“My mum was always very strict about never talking of any connection”) and her concerns about people stuck in tough domestic situations (“In places where life is hard, it will be harder.”)

Sport

Liverpool have reversed their controversial decision to put around 200 non-playing staff on furlough after receiving fierce criticism for seeking government assistance during the coronavirus crisis. The chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, Gordon Taylor, has said he will not take a cut to his £2m salary, as the continuing dispute over footballers’ wages appeared still some distance from being resolved. The Open has emerged as the outlier in this year’s major scene after cancelling its 149th staging at Royal St George’s in Kent this July. Jos Buttler has said England players want their recent £500,000 wage donation to help cricket’s grassroots initiatives during the coronavirus pandemic. The McLaren chief executive, Zak Brown, has warned of potentially devastating effects for Formula One from the Covid-19 outbreak. Pep Guardiola’s mother, Dolors Sala Carrió, has died aged 82 from coronavirus, news greeted by an outpouring of condolences from across football for the Manchester City manager and his family. Prosecutors in New York have revealed new details of alleged bribes paid to Fifa executive committee members to gain their votes for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. And Radomir Antic, the former Atlético manager and Luton player, has died after a long illness, aged 71.

Business

Stock markets in Asia have continued to rise on a more optimistic outlook among investors that helped the FTSE100 lift yesterday on the back of better news about the virus from Europe. The FTSE looks like opening flat this morning while the pound is up slightly at $1.228 and €1.134.

The papers

The papers are naturally unanimous in the main story of the day and also close to having identical headlines in several cases. The Times says “PM in intensive care”, the Telegraph has “Johnson in intensive care” and the Sun says “Boris in intensive care”. The Guardian’s splash headline is “Johnson taken to intensive care after virus symptoms worsen” while the FT has “Johnson moved to intensive care as persistent symptoms worsen”.

The Mirror says “Sick Boris faces fight for life”, the Mail goes with “Now stricken Boris taken to intensive care” and the Express has “Boris moved to intensive care as health worsens”. The Metro says “PM put in intensive care unit” while the i opts for “Prime minister in intensive care with coronavirus”.

Sign up

The Guardian morning briefing is delivered to thousands of inboxes bright and early every weekday. If you are not already receiving it by email, you can sign up here.

For more news: www.theguardian.com