Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus on 27 March, after noticing mild symptoms the previous afternoon. After receiving the results, he began self-isolating and working from home.
The rumours began a week after Boris Johnson began self-isolating in the flat above No 11 Downing Street. The story, spread by the prime minister and his aides, had thus far been reassuring.
Yes, he had Covid-19. But the symptoms were nothing to worry about. Mild even. And at a time when deaths from the pandemic were continuing to climb, Johnson had a firm grip on the crisis and the machinery of power.
All of this changed on Thursday 2 April. At the lunchtime briefing for lobby correspondents, Downing Street stuck to this soothing script. The prime minister continued to have a temperature.
But, subject to medical review, there was every prospect he would be able to emerge from isolation the next day, the press was assured. Seemingly, Johnson had shaken off the virus with the same alacrity as the health secretary, Matt Hancock, back after a short interlude.
However, just over a week later on Sunday, 5 April, Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London for further tests as a “precautionary step”, after his coronavirus symptoms persisted.
The following day, Monday 6 April, things took an almost Soviet turn. While the prime minister was gasping for breath, aides insisted at a lunchtime press briefing that he was busy working his way through red boxes.
At 5pm the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, even claimed Johnson was in charge and “leading”. It appeared the government was covering up, or incompetent, or both. At 8.10pm it announced the prime minister was in critical care, saying he had asked Raab to deputise for him. The fiction of Johnson being in command had ended.
After three days in intensive care he was moved on to a general ward. Downing Street said he was in extremely good spirits and “enormously grateful” for the care he’d received.
At midday on Sunday, 12th April, he was discharged, following seven nights in hospital, three of them in intensive care.
Boris Johnson returned to work, chairing the Downing Street “war cabinet” on Monday, 27th April, stating there are signs the UK is now “passing through the peak”.