Coronavirus: Boris Johnson calls Donald Trump and will speak to Queen as he gradually returns to work
The PM "isn't formally doing government work" but is in touch with world leaders and his ministers and officials, Number 10 says.
Tuesday 21 April 2020 16:42, UK
Boris Johnson has phoned Donald Trump and will speak to the Queen later this week as he gradually returns to work, Downing Street has said.
He thanked the his US president for "his good wishes while he was unwell" recovering from COVID-19, according to an official account of the call released by Number 10.
The pair also agreed "on the importance of a coordinated international response to coronavirus" and hopes for signing a trade deal "as soon as possible".
Mr Johnson is expected to hold an audience with the Queen - also by telephone - later in the week.
It will be Mr Johnson's first audience with Her Majesty in three weeks, as he continues his recovery from coronavirus.
After spending seven nights at St Thomas' Hospital in London with COVID-19 earlier this month, the prime minister has been recuperating at Chequers, his official country residence, in Buckinghamshire.
At a briefing for Westminster reporters on Tuesday, Mr Johnson's spokesman said the prime minister would be "continuing his recovery at Chequers and isn't formally doing government work".
However, the spokesman said Mr Johnson had already been in contact with other world leaders, as well as his ministers and officials.
"He has been receiving updates from Number 10 on the coronavirus response and has spoken with the First Secretary of State [Dominic Raab] and senior members of his team," the spokesman said.
"Yesterday he sent a message of condolence to [Canadian Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau after the very sad loss of life in the shooting in Canada.
"Later today, at around about 2pm, he will be speaking with President Trump."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on , , ,
Prior to their planned conversation later this week, Mr Johnson last held an audience with the Queen on 1 April via telephone.
Her Majesty usually meets with her prime minister face-to-face on a weekly basis, although the coronavirus pandemic forced Mr Johnson and the Queen to hold their previous two conversations, on 1 April and 25 March, on the telephone.
The prime minister was first admitted to hospital on 5 April and, during his stay, the Queen sent a message to Mr Johnson's fiancee, Carrie Symonds, and his family.
As Mr Johnson's most senior cabinet minister, Mr Raab has been deputising for the prime minister during his illness and recovery.
Mr Raab, who is also foreign secretary, will stand in for Mr Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday and chair a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning.
Wednesday's session of PMQs is set to be the first in history in which MPs can ask questions remotely, with large TV screens having been installed in the House of Commons for MPs to appear via video conferencing software Zoom.
However both Sir Keir Starmer - in his first PMQs as Labour leader - and Mr Raab will be present in the Commons chamber.