Test Confirms Boris Johnson No Longer Has Coronavirus

Boris Johnson tested negative for coronavirus when leaving hospital, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister had previously tested positive for COVID-19 before being admitted to hospital, including spending time in intensive care.

Asked about the Prime Minister being tested before he was discharged, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: "It is standard practice in hospital to do that. And the results came back negative."

The Prime Minister was discharged from St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Sunday.

Mr Johnson will continue his recovery from coronavirus at Chequers.

Downing Street said he would not be returning to work immediately on doctors’ orders and would instead head to his country residence in Buckinghamshire to recuperate.

A Number 10 spokesman said after the Prime Minister was discharged: "On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work.

"He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received.

"All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness."

Mr Johnson praised NHS staff for saving his life.

In a video statement released on social media, Mr Johnson said: "I have today left hospital after a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question.

"It’s hard to find the words to express my debt – but before I come to that, I want to thank everyone in the entire UK for the effort and the sacrifice you have made and are making."

A No 10 spokeswoman said on Saturday that the Prime Minister was continuing to "make very good progress" after leaving the intensive care unit.

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".