# PM Boris Johnson tests positive for Coronavirus **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413 "2020-03-27T11:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/1 "2020-03-27T11:26:29Z")
[BBC Article](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52060791) Details to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/2 "2020-03-27T12:00:29Z")
If one were even more prone to conspiracy theories than one already is, one might think that this was a PR stunt. “PM fighting on the front lines!”, “Boris is one of us!”. It would also give him even more time off. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/3 "2020-03-27T12:11:41Z")
As I said on the other thread, this will concentrate some minds in government. The question now is, how many other people who have been around Johnson for the past week have got it? He won’t be the only one. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/4 "2020-03-27T12:12:06Z")
So given his age, what are the chances for his recovery? (I remember seeing a breakdown of mortality for confirmed infections by age group, but can’t seem to find it now.) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/5 "2020-03-27T12:22:52Z")
Let’s see, he’s 55, chubby, drinks, smokes cigars. The last one might be the worst co-factor. (Not sure if he also smokes cigarettes which would be even worse.) OTOH, I’m sure he’ll get priority medical care. That makes a big difference. Less likely to die than Prince Charles, more likely than Idris Elba. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/6 "2020-03-27T13:06:28Z")
Also the Health Secretary Matt Hancock. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/7 "2020-03-27T13:32:27Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Let’s see, he’s 55, chubby, drinks, smokes cigars. The last one might be the worst co-factor. (Not sure if he also smokes cigarettes which would be even worse.) > > OTOH, I’m sure he’ll get priority medical care. That makes a big difference. > > Less likely to die than Prince Charles, more likely than Idris Elba. One doesnt inhale a cigar. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/8 "2020-03-27T13:43:21Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > One doesnt inhale a cigar. Psst… > [@National Cancer Institute](#): > > [Cigar smoking causes cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and lung. It may also cause cancer of the pancreas. Moreover, daily cigar smokers, particularly those who inhale, are at increased risk for developing heart disease and other types of lung disease. Regular cigar smokers and cigarette smokers have similar levels of risk for oral cavity and esophageal cancers. The more you smoke, the greater the risk of disease.](https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cigars-fact-sheet#do-cigars-cause-cancer-and-other-diseases) ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/9 "2020-03-27T13:49:41Z")
[This video](https://twitter.com/AllieHBNews/status/1243520576007872513) of Dominic Cummings literally _running_ out of Downing Street shortly after Johnson and Hancock tested positive made me laugh. I thought you advocated herd immunity, Mr Cummings? 🙂 Or are the rats deserting the ship of state? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/10 "2020-03-27T15:33:07Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > So given his age, what are the chances for his recovery? (I remember seeing a breakdown of mortality for confirmed infections by age group, but can’t seem to find it now.) Well, according to the graph in [this BBC article](https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51674743), the death rate for confirmed cases in his age range is around 0.5%. So without factoring in any complications and pre-existing conditions mentioned upthread, it seems he has a relatively good chance of surviving. (Of course, even the death rate for very old people or those with pre-existing conditions doesn’t seem to exceed 11%.) ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/11 "2020-03-27T15:48:13Z")
In many ways, whether he lives or dies is less important, globally, than whether he gets so sick that he is incapacitated. Which is significantly more likely. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/12 "2020-03-27T16:05:06Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > In many ways, whether he lives or dies is less important, globally, than whether he gets so sick that he is incapacitated. Which is significantly more likely. I don’t see how. He’s [packed the cabinet with his own loyalists](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/13/the-guardian-view-on-the-reshuffle-johnsons-cabinet-of-courtiers) (at least, more than past prime ministers in recent memory have done) who are unlikely to deviate from his views and policies. If Johnson is incapacitated, the cabinet will keep running things more or less as he’s been doing. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/13 "2020-03-27T16:09:48Z")
I’m sure some people have “faked” getting the Coronavirus for attention. In terms of world leaders, I would be much more likely to believe that a leader covered up having it then faking having it. I don’t know if Trump could hide it, but I think he would if he could. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/14 "2020-03-27T16:30:12Z")
As a rule, leaders don’t want sympathy, they want to project strength. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/15 "2020-03-27T16:30:40Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > One doesnt inhale a cigar. You haven’t met my father. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/16 "2020-03-27T16:36:22Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > In many ways, whether he lives or dies is less important, globally, than whether he gets so sick that he is incapacitated. Which is significantly more likely. Luckily, he isn’t a president. The government doesn’t grind to a halt just because a minister gets sick, even the ‘Prime’ Minister. In this instance, the Foreign Secretary would step up to the plate. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/17 "2020-03-27T17:02:32Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I don’t know if Trump could hide it, but I think he would if he could. I think he could easily hide it. His doctor would not be able to release any information without Trump’s approval. Trump would not allow the doctor to do so, because it would endanger his re-election. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/850413/18 "2020-03-27T18:36:28Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Luckily, he isn’t a president. The government doesn’t grind to a halt just because a minister gets sick, even the ‘Prime’ Minister. In this instance, the Foreign Secretary would step up to the plate. I don’t mean that way, I just mean everyone was speculating on whether he’d survive, and I was pointing out that that isn’t really nearly as relevant as whether he’d stay in the game, so to speak. I mean, the US also won’t grind to a halt if the president is incapacitated or dead, but it’s certainly relevant. My point is that if you’re going to talk about it at all, the more relevant stat is chance of being incapacitated.