Nurses who cared for Boris Johnson in the ICU praised by world leaders

London CNN — Two nurses thanked by Boris Johnson for helping to save his life during his spell in intensive care for Covid-19 have been praised in their home countries, receiving messages of congratulations from their leaders and being hailed by their family members. But he singled out two nurses – Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luís Pitarma from Portugal – who stood by his bedside “for 48 hours when things could have gone either way.” McGee’s brother Rob told the New Zealand Herald that she was “blown away” by Johnson’s message – but added that “she just saw it as another day and kept just saying she is just doing her job.” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern added that she has sent McGee a message on Facebook to thank her for her work, but hasn’t had a response yet. In Portugal, meanwhile, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he has “already personally thanked the nurse Luís Pitarma, while also thanking the commitment of all Portuguese health professionals who, in Portugal and around the world, are providing crucial help in the fight against the pandemic.” ‘A surreal time’ Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in Central London on April 5 and went into intensive care the following day, having previously tested positive for Covid-19. “But she has told us these things over the years and it doesn’t matter what patient she’s looking after, this is what she does.” “And I just find it incredible that she – that any person – can do this for 12 hours, sit and watch a patient.” Ardern, meanwhile, noted that “nurse Jenny” is just one of the “many, many Kiwis” who work in healthcare around the world. Johnson spoke to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is still deputizing for the Prime Minister, over the weekend but is focusing on recovery and has not received a “red box” – cases containing briefing papers given to ministers – since his condition worsened on April 6, his spokesperson said.