Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital due to persistent coronavirus symptoms.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the admission was a precautionary measure.

"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 10 days after testing positive for the virus," the spokesperson said.

Johnson has been in self-isolation at his Downing Street flat since testing positive.

Sterling fell on the news and by 2225 BST, was trading down 0.2% against the dollar at 1.2239.

It was understood that Johnson remains in charge of the government. However, should his condition deteriorate, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is also First Secretary of State, will take over. Raab will chair the Monday morning meeting of the government’s Covid-19 committee.