U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from intensive care to the general ward after his condition improved.
“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,” a spokesman for No. 10 Downing Street said in a statement.
“He is in extremely good spirits,” the spokesman added.
The Conservative Party leader announced on March 27 that he had contracted COVID-19, making him the first major governmental leader known to have contracted the virus.
Johnson, 55, tweeted Monday morning that had been admitted to St. Thomas’ Hospital in London the previous night for “some routine tests” because he was still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. He previously said that he had been tested for the virus after coming down with “mild symptoms,” including “a temperature and a persistent cough.”
On Monday afternoon, a government spokesman said Johnson was moved to the ICU after his symptoms “worsened.”
As of Thursday, more than 61,516 people had contracted the coronavirus in the U.K., with 7,097 deaths nationwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The U.K. reported its largest daily rise in deaths so far on Wednesday, with 938 fatalities in 24 hours, bringing the country’s death toll past the grim milestone of 7,000.
