Coronavirus: Boris Johnson Making 'Very Good Progress'

A No 10 spokeswoman said on Saturday that "the Prime Minister continues to make very good progress."

Boris Johnson was moved out of the intensive care unit where he has been undergoing treatment for coronavirus.

A No 10 spokesman said earlier in the week that the Prime Minister had been returned to the ward at St Thomas’ Hospital as his condition continued to improve.

"The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery," the spokesman said.

"He is in extremely good spirits."

Mr Johnson was originally admitted to hospital on 5 April on the advice of his doctor, amid concerns he was still suffering symptoms 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Initially, it was described as a "precautionary" measure and on Monday he was said to be issuing instructions and working on his ministerial red boxes from his hospital bed.

But by the evening his condition had deteriorated and he was moved to the intensive care unit in case he required a ventilator.

The announcement was greeted with shock at Westminster amid fears that No 10 had sought to play down the seriousness of his condition.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that while he had received oxygen treatment, he had not needed to be put on a ventilator or CPAP machine.

By Wednesday he was said to have been well enough to sit up in bed and to communicate with his medical team.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputising for him, told the daily No 10 press conference that he had been making "positive steps forward".