Coronavirus: Prime minister Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care and remains in hospital

A No 10 spokesman said that the Prime Minister had moved to the ward as his condition continues to improve.

The 55-year-old was originally admitted to hospital on Sunday on the advice of his doctor, amid concerns he was still suffering symptoms 10 days after testing positive for Covid-19, before being taken to the ICU on Monday evening.

The government spokesman said: ‘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.’

‘He is in extremely good spirits.’

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt tweeted that it was ‘excellent news.’

The tweet continued: ‘Get well soon Boris!’

She also posted a picture of NHS workers in PPE holding up a sign that reads ‘Get well soon Boris’.

Initially the admittance to hospital was described as a ‘precautionary’ measure, and the prime minister was said to be issuing instructions and working on his ministerial red boxes from his hospital bed on Monday.

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.

Earlier today, 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’.

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