| Category: Regional: United Kingdom |
Boris Johnson has spent the night in a central London hospital after being admitted for tests 10 days after confirming he had the coronavirus.
The prime minister, 55, still has persistent coronavirus symptoms and went on the advice of his doctor, Downing Street said.
His persistent symptoms are understood to include a high temperature.
A spokesperson confirmed his admission was a precautionary rather than emergency measure and added he "thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work".
They also urged the public to "continue to follow the government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives".
The prime minister travelled, without the need for an ambulance, to the hospital at 8pm on Sunday and is understood to still be leading the government response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News that Mr Johnson "remains very much in charge of the government" and added: "I expect he'll be able to return to Number 10 shortly."
GP Dr Ellie Cannon told Sky News that still being ill at 10 days "is probably a red flag if he still has symptoms", adding: "Until you are fully better you are not out of the woods."
Politicians from all sides have sent get-well messages to the PM.
At the start of his regular White House news briefing on COVID-19, US president Donald Trump passed on his nation's best wishes.
"All Americans are praying for him," Mr Trump said. "He's a great friend of mine. I'm sure he is going to be fine, he's a strong man, a strong person."
Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "Wishing the Prime Minister well and a speedy recovery."
Labour MP David Lammy wrote: "Get well soon @BorisJohnson. The whole country wants you to return to full health as soon as possible."
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wished the PM "all the best and a speedy recovery" while Lib Dem MP Layla Moran tweeted "wishing @BorisJohnson a speedy recovery" and encouraged people to give Mr Johnson time to recover.
Labour MP Jess Phillips also sent her regards to Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with the couple's first child.
Ms Symonds, 32, announced on Saturday she had spent a week in bed with coronavirus symptoms but struck an optimistic tone, saying: "I haven't needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I'm on the mend."
Mr Johnson has been self-isolating in 11 Downing Street since testing positive on 27 March; he uses the residence above the chancellor's office as several prime ministers have in the past given it has a larger living space.
He posted a video message on Friday urging people to "stick with" the lockdown measures.
Mr Johnson remains "in charge of the government" and in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials despite his hospital admission, a spokesman said.
But Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and designated minister who will take over if the prime minister is incapacitated, will chair the government's daily emergency coronavirus committee meeting known as C-19 on Monday morning.
There have been glimpses of Mr Johnson looking tired in his social media messages and on the steps of Downing Street for the national applause to key workers.
He appeared progressively worse for wear the last time he was seen on Friday in a video urging people to stay home and not to break social distancing rules as the weather warmed up.
In it, he confirmed he still had a high temperature.
Fears were raised over the spread of COVID-19 at the heart of government when a health minister contracted it after attending a Downing Street reception.
'US is praying for Boris. He's a friend of mine'
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also last week tested positive for the virus, but is now out of self-isolation having stayed at home for seven days.
He had given an update on the prime minister's health, telling Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: "He's okay, I've been talking to him every day, often several times a day...
"It shows this virus affects different people differently.
"I was lucky, I had two pretty rough days and then I bounced back and some people do get it pretty mildly, and then for others it's very, very serious and the prime minister is not at that end of the spectrum."
One of the prime minister's closest advisers on managing the coronavirus crisis, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, and his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, have also been self-isolating with symptoms.
On Sunday it was confirmed another 621 hospital patients had died after contracting coronavirus - taking the UK's total to 4,934.
~ Via Sky News |
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