Agony for Boris Johnson's heavily-pregnant fiancée Carrie Symonds and his children as they are banned from his intensive care bedside while he battles coronavirus

  • Prime Minister's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds has barely seen him for weeks
  • The birth of her first baby with the Premier is just weeks away amid pandemic
  • When PM went into isolation she left Downing Street and went to £1.3m home
  • Carrie's reported wish for a home birth could also be in jeopardy in Covid turmoil
  • Boris and second wife Marina divorced in February after claims he had an affair
  • Their four children Lara, 26, Milo, 24, Cassia, 22, and Theo, 20, face anxious wait

Boris Johnson's heavily pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds and his children are all barred from seeing the prime minister as he battles coronavirus in intensive care today.

Mr Johnson, 55, was rushed into ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in central London with breathing difficulties and his partner is not allowed to be by his side because of her pregnancy and a blanket ban on visitors. 

Boris and Carrie have not seen each other for a fortnight after Mr Johnson, 55, first fell ill on March 27 while Ms Symonds, 32, is understood to have come down with similar symptoms over the weekend and is in self-isolation with the couple's dog Dilyn at their £1.3m South London home.

The Prime Minister is said to be conscious but needing oxygen - and it is not known if they have been able to speak on the phone, but Carrie will be getting updates from the ward and No 10. 

If Mr Johnson has nominated Carrie as his next of kin, if his condition deteriorates doctors may ask her to make decisions on his behalf should he be sedated and put on a ventilator. 

Boris' children Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20, will also be being informed about his condition by ICU medics at St Thomas', according to NHS guidance. He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, 11, after an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre with a sixth child from another affair also rumoured.

But it is likely his second wife Marina, who divorced him in February, will only hear news from their four children unless Mr Johnson specifically asks medics to speak to her about his health.

Carrie Symonds is self isolating with the couple's rescue dog Dilyn (pictured together on March 27)

Carrie Symonds is self isolating with the couple's rescue dog Dilyn (pictured together on March 27) 

Pregnant Carrie cannot see her fiance Boris, who is seriously ill with coronavirus (pictured together on March 9 at Westminster Abbey)

Pregnant Carrie cannot see her fiance Boris, who is seriously ill with coronavirus (pictured together on March 9 at Westminster Abbey)

There is a heavy police presence at St Thomas' Hospital on Wesrminster Bridge today where Mr Johnson remains in intensive care

There is a heavy police presence at St Thomas' Hospital on Wesrminster Bridge today where Mr Johnson remains in intensive care

Are pregnant women more vulnerable to coronavirus? 

There is no evidence that pregnant women become more severely unwell if they develop coronavirus than the general population.

It is expected the large majority of pregnant women will experience only mild or moderate symptoms because more severe symptoms such as pneumonia appear to be more common in older people, those with weakened immune systems or long-term conditions. 

There are no reported deaths of pregnant women from coronavirus at the moment.

If you are pregnant you are more vulnerable to getting infections than a woman who is not pregnant, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 

If you have an underlying condition, such as asthma or diabetes, you may be more unwell if you have coronavirus because is poses a higher risk to those with underlying health conditions.

In terms of risk to the baby, there is no evidence right now to suggest an increased risk of miscarriage or transmission to the unborn baby via the womb or breast milk.  

Some babies born to women with symptoms of coronavirus in China have been born prematurely. It is unclear whether coronavirus caused this or the doctors made the decision for the baby to be born early because the woman was unwell.

Guidance updated by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says viral infections can 'occasionally be related to more severe symptoms and this will be the same for Covid-19'.

It says that, while the risks are small overall, health professionals should look out for more severe symptoms of Covid-19 in pregnant women who test positive, such as pneumonia and a lack of oxygen.

Their acrimonious split has caused tension between Mr Johnson and his children, who he asked to meet in person in February to tell them he was engaged to Carrie and they were having a baby.

But not all of his children reportedly bothered to turn up for their father's announcement and are said to be 'furious' because they believe Carrie and Boris got together after an affair.    

On March 27 - the day Boris tested positive for coronavirus - Carrie shared a photograph of herself self-isolating with their dog Dilyn at the £1.3million Camberwell house she bought with Mr Johnson last year. 

Downing Street has refused to say where she is  

Carrie Symonds is just one of the millions of pregnant women who were told they were ‘at increased risk’ from Covid-19 – and ordered to follow ‘stringent’ social distancing, for 12 weeks.

She had also reportedly wanted a home birth but women all over the country are having these cancelled because of a lack of midwives and some hospitals are also banning birthing partners.

Miss Symonds is the first unmarried partner of a Prime Minister to live in Downing Street, where she is understood to have been considering having the baby. 

But if the lockdown continues she may have to give birth in hospital, potentially without a birthing partner. 

Boris Johnson is still battling coronavirus in intensive care today with 'no change' in his condition overnight - amid a wave of support from across the nation and an outp

Mr Johnson was moved to ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in central London and given oxygen after his health deteriorated sharply over just two hours, leaving doctors fearing he will need a ventilator.

The 55-year-old was transferred to intensive care at 7pm because of breathing difficulties - forcing him to 'deputise' Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take the reins of government. 

The Queen is being kept informed about Mr Johnson's condition, while Mr Raab will chair a meeting of the government coronavirus task force this morning.  

No10 has been urged to be more 'transparent' about the premier's condition, amid claims a hospital bed was being prepared for him as early as last Thursday.

Boris Johnson's second wife Marina (pictured together in 2015) divorced him in February amid claims of an affair

Boris Johnson's second wife Marina (pictured together in 2015) divorced him in February amid claims of an affair

Boris' daughter Lara (together in 2012) reportedly branded her father a 'selfish b*****d' after allegations he had a liaison with Carrie surfaced in 2018

Boris' daughter Lara (together in 2012) reportedly branded her father a 'selfish b*****d' after allegations he had a liaison with Carrie surfaced in 2018

Mr Johnson is thought to have told their Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, (pictured) Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20, last week that he and Carrie are having a baby
Mr Johnson is thought to have told their Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, (pictured) and Theodore Apollo, 20, last week that he and Carrie are having a baby
Mr Johnson is thought to have told their Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20, (pictured) last week that he and Carrie are having a baby

Mr Johnson is thought asked Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, (left) Cassia Peaches, 22, (centre) and Theodore Apollo, 20, (right)  to meet so he could tell them he  and Carrie are having a baby - but some refused to come amid tensions over his new relationship

How many children does Boris Johnson have? 

The Prime Minister and Marina Wheeler, who separated in 2018, have four children together: Lara Lettice, 26, Milo Arthur, 24, Cassia Peaches, 22, and Theodore Apollo, 20.

He also has a fifth child, Stephanie Macintyre, with art consultant Helen Macintyre.  

Ms Macintyre's daughter is allegedly one of two children he fathered as a result of an affair. 

The Appeal Court ruled in 2013 that the public had a right to know that he had fathered a daughter during an adulterous liaison while Mayor of London in 2009 - but also mentioned the possibility of a second baby. 

It is not known if Boris has any more children - but his baby with Carrie will be his sixth, officially. 

Carrie was brought up by her mother Josephine, who is now 71, in East Sheen, South-West London and attended the private £20,000-a-year Godolphin & Latymer School. 

Her father Matthew, a founder of the Independent newspaper, lived in a large property not far away in Twickenham with his wife, Alison, with whom he has three children.

Matthew had an affair with Josephine, who was a lawyer on the paper— and Carrie is the product of that affair, born in 1988.  

When Mr Johnson and former Tory Party head of press Miss Symonds fell in love, many were sceptical that it could last.

The cynics appeared to have been proved right when they were overheard having a spectacular domestic spat in their London house early in their relationship.

But they have proved the doubters wrong. Despite not being married, they negotiated tricky moments like visiting the Queen at Balmoral as an unmarried couple, with great dignity. 

Boris Johnson on April 1
Boris Johnson on April 2
Boris Johnson on April 3

Images show the Prime Minister's changing appearance as his battle with coronavirus as he looked more and more unwell (left to right April 1, 2 and 3)

The couple, pictured on election night in December, have rarely seen each other through the crisis and haven't been together for more than a fortnight

The couple, pictured on election night in December, have rarely seen each other through the crisis and haven't been together for more than a fortnight

Trump rallies round virus-stricken Prime Minister - and offers to send drugs and doctors

Donald Trump joined world leaders throwing their support behind Boris Johnson as he wished him a speedy recovery

Donald Trump joined world leaders throwing their support behind Boris Johnson as he wished him a speedy recovery

Donald Trump joined world leaders throwing their support behind Boris Johnson as he wished him a speedy recovery after he was moved in to intensive care battling coronavirus.

Hundreds of messages of support have been sent to Mr Johnson by Conservative colleagues, opposition MPs and world leaders.

The President, speaking at a White House press briefing, said: 'I want to send best wishes to a great friend of mine, and a great friend of our nation, Boris Johnson.

'We are very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive car this afternoon, a little while ago. Americans are all praying for him. He's been a really good friend. He's very strong, resolute. Doesn't quit, doesn't give up.' 

Miss Symonds proved a great asset to Mr Johnson in the election campaign. She curbed her love of the limelight and made sure he was the centre of attention. 

Within weeks of becoming Prime Minister she became pregnant. Mr Johnson was heavily criticised soon into his premiership when many parts of Britain were badly flooded and he failed to visit them.

At the time he was staying with Miss Symonds at the Foreign Secretary’s official residence, Chevening in Kent, while repairs were being carried out at Chequers. Mr Johnson fell in love with Chequers in his days as Foreign Secretary in Theresa May’s government.

He regularly went for swims in the Chevening lake, urging male guests to strip off and join him.

One MP who has known him since before he became an MP said: ‘He was excited at being able to be with Carrie at Chevening officially. It is no secret that they used to go there for trysts before they were officially an item.

‘They had a brief break in Mustique but it was at Chevening that they had the time and space to get to know each other better. Then Carrie got pregnant. It was wonderful.’  

Little did they know that their lives were about to be thrown into such personal and political turmoil.

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Carrie Symonds is banned from being at Boris Johnson's side as he battles coronavirus

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