By Hamed Chapman

London, (The Muslim News): Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Monday that the UK is “turning the tide” to defeat the Coronavirus pandemic and is “on track to prevail in phase one” of the fight.

Describing the deadly disease as an “unexpected and invisible mugger”, he said that “this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor” using rhetoric not dissimilar top that used by popularist US President, Donald Trump.

“It follows that this is the moment of opportunity, this is the moment when we can press home our advantage,” Johnson said on his first day back after returning to Downing Street following suffering from Covid-19 disease that has already killed more than 20,000 Britons in hospitals and unknown numbers in the community.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said that the Covid-19 crisis is “the biggest single challenge this country has faced since the War.”

But he also cautioned that it was “also the moment of maximum risk” and he did not want to be forced to end the delayed Lockdown measures in Britain prematurely.

“We must also recognise the risk of a second spike and letting the reproduction rate go back over one,” the Prime Minister said.

“That would not only be a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster and we would be forced once again to slam on the brakes across the whole country and whole economy and reimpose restrictions.”

[Archive Photo: PM Boris Johnson speaking in House of Commons. Photographer: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament]