UK PM Johnson moved to intensive care unit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to an intensive care unit after his coronavirus symptoms worsened on Monday. Downing Street said

The PM was admitted to a London hospital on Sunday due to persistent coronavirus symptoms, 10 days after testing positive for the virus. It was understood that Johnson is still conscious but was moved to intensive care as a precaution in case he needs ventilation.

"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," Downing Street said in a statement.

"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."

Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has been asked to deputise for Johnson where necessary.

Earlier on Monday, Johnson tweeted: "Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe."

The death toll in the UK rose by 439 on Monday, taking the total number of deaths to 5,373.

At 2035 GMT, sterling was down 0.4% against the dollar at 1.2220.

Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "We need coordinated government response and the office of PM is central to this. The pound dropped on the news as a knee-jerk move but failed to test the lows of the day so traders for now are not reading too much into this."