'WRESTLE IT'
Boris Johnson describes his coronavirus battle as being attacked by ‘an invisible mugger’
BORIS Johnson today described his coronavirus battle as like being attacked by an “invisible mugger”.
The Prime Minister returned to work this morning after fighting the deadly bug and gave a rallying speech outside No.10.
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He warned Brits against “lockdown impatience” as the county is at the stage of “maximum risk”.
But the 55-year-old also revealed how he tackled the virus first hand after he was rushed to intensive care when he tested positive for Covid-19.
He said Brits need to unite to fight the "physical assailant" - which he described as an "invisible mugger" - and "wrestle it to the floor".
Mr Johnson said: "If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.
"This is the moment of opportunity, this is the moment when we can press home our advantage."
INVISIBLE MUGGER
He added: “I am sorry I've been away from my desk for much longer than I would have liked.
“I want to thank everybody who stepped up.
“I want to thank the people of the country for the sheer guts and grit you have shown and are continuing to show.
“Every day this virus brings new sadness and mourning across the land.
“This is still the biggest single challenge this country has faced since the war.”
If this virus were a physical assailant, an invisible mugger, then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.
Boris Johnson
The PM hasn't been seen since he made a video statement to the nation on April 12 after spending a week in hospital fighting off the bug in intensive care.
He said the risk of a "second spike" would mean a "new wave of deaths" and an "economic disaster".
It would mean he would be forced to "slam on the brakes across the country" yet again and "reimpose the restrictions to do long and lasting damage".
"I refuse to throw away all the effort and sacrifice of the British people, and risk a major outbreak and massive loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS," he said.
"I ask you to contain your impatience. I believe we are moving to the end of this first stage of this conflict."
RALLYING SPEECH
The PM said he would lay out plans to move to the next phase of the lockdown in the "coming days", but warned Brits not to expect an exact date.
He stressed: "We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made.These decisions will be taken with the maximum transparency.
"We will be relying as ever on science. Across party lines, bringing in opposition parties as far as we possibly can.
"We will beat it together and come through it all the faster and the UK will emerge stronger than ever before."
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The PM, who was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in Central London two weeks ago, is said to have spent the past week easing back into his workload.
He spoke with Donald Trump and had an audience over the phone with the Queen, too.
Since leaving hospital, he has been recovering at his country retreat with his pregnant fiancee Ms Symonds - also believed to have had the deadly bug.
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