UK leader Boris Johnson returns to work after coronavirus recovery

(Update 1: Adds the latest figures)

     London, Apr 27 (efe-epa).- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work on Monday to lead the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak after recovering from Covid-19.

He was due to chair the United Kingdom’s regular cabinet meeting on the pandemic and hold talks with senior ministers and officials.

UK health officials on Monday said another 360 coronavirus patients had died in hospital in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall toll to 21,092, below the 413 and 813 reported over the last two days.

However, the UK government does not include in its daily figures the number of Covid-19 deaths outside hospitals.

Johnson returned to Downing Street on Sunday after recovering at his official country residence in Chequers following treatment in an intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital in London earlier this month.

His most pressing task was to assess the country’s Covid-19 situation and review the lockdown measures amid growing pressure to ease the restrictions.

He thanked the British public for the “sheer grit and guts” they had shown in the face of the crisis, which he described as the “biggest single challenge” the nation has faced since World War Two during a speech on Monday.

The PM added that the UK was “now beginning to turn the tide” but that it would be too soon to start easing the lockdown.

“I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict,” he continued.

The UK government put the country into lockdown for three weeks on 23 March, which was later extended until 7 May.