The 55-year-old British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been shifted to intensive care unit after his Chinese virus symptoms worsened.
“Since Sunday evening, the prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital in London after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus,” US-based New York Post reported quoting Johnson’s office.
“Over the course of this afternoon the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication,” the office added.
The news comes as deaths due to Chinese virus in UK has reached 5,373, an increase of 439 in a day. The Department of Health and Social Care said there were now 51,608 confirmed Chinese virus cases.
A spokesperson on April 5 had said Johnson was taken to the hospital as a “precautionary step.”
He tested positive for the virus last month.
Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise where necessary.
On March 27, the prime minister had announced his positive test results on Twitter, saying his symptoms were mild and he was self-isolating, while insisting that the country should continue to follow social distancing.
As the news spread across the globe, world leaders wished for Johnson’s fast recovery.
Johnson was taken to hospital for routine tests after testing positive for the virus. His symptoms included a high temperature and a cough.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wished the prime minister for good health and London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Johnson could not be in safer hands at St Thomas’ Hospital which has some of the finest medical staff in the world.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Johnson would come out of the current condition stronger.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described it as terribly sad news and said all the country’s thoughts are with the prime minister and his family.
During a televised address on April 5 evening, Queen Elizabeth II had urged people to show “self-discipline” and “quiet good-humored resolve. “
“I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” the queen said. “And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.”
