Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care in hospital after his coronavirus symptoms “worsened”, Downing Street has said.
A spokesman said he was moved on the advice of his medical team and is receiving “excellent care”.
Mr Johnson has also asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize “where necessary”, the spokesman added.
The prime minister, 55, was admitted to hospital in London with “persistent symptoms” of coronavirus on Sunday.
A statement read: “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.
“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.”
It comes as the number of coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK reached 5,373 – an increase of 439 in a day. The Department of Health and Social Care said there were now 51,608 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Mr Johnson was initially taken to hospital for routine tests after testing positive for coronavirus 10 days ago. His symptoms included a high temperature and a cough.
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