Johnson 'responding to treatment' in intensive care

The Prime Minister is “responding to treatment” while in intensive care with coronavirus.

Boris Johnson was taken to St Thomas’s Hospital in London on Sunday evening after his Covid-19 condition worsened.

According to an official spokesman, he is receiving “standard oxygen treatment” and is “breathing without any other assistance”.

He said: “The Prime Minister remains clinically stable and is responding to treatment.

“He continues to be cared for in the intensive care unit at St Thomas’s Hospital. He’s in good spirits.”

When asked about specifics of the PM’s condition and treatment, the spokesman said: “The information in the update we have provided was given to us by St Thomas’ Hospital and it contains all the information that the PM’s medical team consider to be clinically relevant.”

Downing Street confirmed Johnson is not working while in intensive care and thanked the public for messages of support.

Asked if anyone has been in contact with the PM, the spokesman said: “The PM is not working, he’s in intensive care, he has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times.

“We are hugely grateful for the messages of support that the Prime Minister has received.

“I think the public response to coronavirus throughout has been fantastic and that has been best exemplified by the applause they’ve been giving to NHS staff every week.”

At the UK Government’s daily briefing on Wednesday night, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said he was “sitting up in bed” and was engaging positively with NHS staff.