The nation is being urged to 'Clap for Boris' this evening to show support for the prime minister who is fighting coronavirus in hospital.
Last night, Boris Johnson was moved onto the intensive care ward at St Thomas' Hospital after suffering breathing difficulties.
The country's leader announced he had tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, March 27, after coming down with a temperature.
He was in self-isolation for ten days before his condition worsened and was admitted to hospital on Sunday night.
The 55-year-old is understood to be conscious but was moved as a precaution should he require a ventilator.
Now, a social media campaign has been launched urging the public to clap for the prime minister to show their support at 8pm tonight.
A Facebook group for the event, Clap for Boris, has already gained more than 84,000 members.
The description reads: "Let’s show our support for our prime minster and let him hear us clap for him."
The hashtag #ClapforBoris is trending on Twitter.
Health specialists fear for the prime minister's health
An expert has warned the Prime Minister is "extremely sick" and could require invasive ventilation - a common treatment for coronavirus patients who need intensive care.
Derek Hill, professor of medical imaging at University College London (UCL), said the PM could be given a breathing aid known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which bridges the gap between an oxygen mask and full ventilation.
CPAP uses pressure to send a blend of air and oxygen into the mouth at a steady rate, thereby boosting the amount of oxygen that enters the lungs.
But Prof Hill said many Covid-19 patients eventually “progress to invasive ventilation”.
A mechanical ventilator either does all the breathing for the patient, or assists the patient's own breathing.
The patient is heavily sedated while a device called an endotracheal tube (ET) is guided through the mouth into the windpipe.
Heavy sedation is then continued because having a tube in the throat can be very uncomfortable.
Patients can be fed at the same time through a tube going into their stomach via their nose.
Prof Hill said it was unclear whether Mr Johnson was breathing on his own, or with the help of some form of ventilator.
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