- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will remain in hospital "as long as necessary" on Monday after being admitted on Sunday for "persistent symptoms of coronavirus."
- Johnson tested positive for the coronavirus ten days ago and continues to experience a high temperature.
- Aides have reportedly become "increasingly worried" about the prime minister's health in recent days due to his appearance and symptoms of the virus.
- Johnson was "more seriously ill than either he or his officials were prepared to admit," according to the Guardian, who report a source suggesting that Johnson "was being seen by doctors who were concerned about his breathing."
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will remain in hospital on Monday after experiencing "persistent symptoms of coronavirus," ten days after first testing positive for it.
The prime minister was admitted to hospital on Sunday on the advice of his doctor after continuing to exhibit a high temperature, Downing Street indicated.
A spokesperson insisted on Sunday that Johnson's hospital admission was not an "emergency" measure but had merely been for precautionary reasons in order to carry out tests.
However, aides have reportedly become "increasingly worried" about the prime minister's health in recent days, according to multiple reports, with Johnson heard "coughing and spluttering" his way through conference calls.
Johnson was "more seriously ill than either he or his officials were prepared to admit," according to the Guardian, who report a source suggesting that Johnson "was being seen by doctors who were concerned about his breathing."
The Sun newspaper reported a Downing Street source suggesting that Johnson would remain in hospital "as long as necessary."
A spokesperson for the prime minister said on Sunday: "On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.
"This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus.
"The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."
Johnson's girlfriend Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with their child, is also suffering from the virus.
She tweeted on Saturday that "I've spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus. I haven't needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I'm on the mend."
Trump says Boris Johnson's hospital admission is 'a big move'
President Donald Trump said he had spoken to the the British Ambassador in Washington and described Johnson's hospital admission as "a big move."
"Hey, it's a big move going to the hospital, it's a big thing," he told journalists.
"He's a great gentleman so I, I just hope he's ok."
He added: "I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus.
"All Americans are praying for him, he's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader."
Dominic Raab will deputise for Boris Johnson
The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been nominated as Johnson's "designated survivor" will chair an emergency coronavirus meeting in Johnson's absence on Monday morning.
Downing Street insists the prime minister remains in charge of the government.
However, if Johnson's condition deteriorates then Raab, who has twice tested negative for the coronavirus, could become the de facto prime minister while Johnson receives treatment.
The decision to give Raab the job reportedly upset some other members of Johnson's Cabinet.
One unnamed minister told The Times: "If Boris can't do his job because he is incapacitated, a lot of people think that Michael [Gove] should be running the show, not Raab. One of these people is Michael, of course."
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