PM is ‘comfortable and ‘in good spirits’, health minister says

The prime minister is “comfortable and in good spirits” as his condition remains stable, a government minister has said.

Edward Argar, a junior health minister, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He hasn’t had to have mechanical ventilation, although he did have some oxygen when he first went into hospital.

“Everyone wishes him and Carrie [Symonds] very well, wishes him a swift and full recovery. He’s not just our nation’s prime minister, for many of us he’s our colleague, he’s our boss, and he’s a friend and we’re all keen to see him make that swift recovery.”

Mr Argar added that the UK’s lockdown would be reviewed when the country appears to have gone past the peak of its epidemic.

Our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, has an update from the US airline United on disruption caused by the pandemic.

Simon writes:

Overnight, the giant US airline, United, has said that any passenger booked at any time in the rest of 2020 can make changes to, or cancel, flights. The offer is valid until the end of April.

“Many customers’ previous plans for travel, including summer vacations, conferences and events have changed or are uncertain due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” said the airline. 

“Customers who wish to cancel their travel can request an Electronic Travel Certificate (ETC) for the full value of their ticket.

“United recently extended the expiration dates for all ETCs to 24 months from their date of issue.”

US airlines have faced criticism for failing to offer refunds to passengers whose flights have been cancelled.

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Europe split over how to deal with economic impact of Covid-19

Finance ministers from the 19 countries that use the euro single currency have broken off talks amid deep divisions over how best to respond to the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.

Mario Centeno, the president of the Eurogroup, had been scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday morning, but EU headquarters said the event was cancelled, following talks deep into the night.

European governments are divided over how best to tackle the economic challenge, with Italy and Spain (backed by France) calling for the EU to throw all its economic might into fighting the virus and the damage caused by it.

However, countries such as Germany and the Netherlands want to hold back something in reserve, in case the situation gets even worse, and are reluctant to share debt with EU partners without strict conditions.

The ministers will meet again on Thursday.

Fears of ‘power vacuum’ in government without Johnson

Senior cabinet ministers have faced questions about who has the authority to make key decisions on policy in Boris Johnson’s absence as the government faces a dilemma about how and when to end the UK’s coronavirus lockdown.

Mr Johnson said on 23 March that the lockdown would be reviewed after three weeks, but Mr Raab told journalists in Downing Street on Monday: “We’re not at that stage yet.”

The foreign secretary said decisions would be made by “collective cabinet responsibility”, insisting this was the “same as before”.

“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,” he added.

The prime minister’s condition is said to be stable, although it is unclear when he will be able to return to Downing Street and how involved he will be in the government’s coronavirus response in the coming days.