British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in hospital due to persistent Coronavirus symptoms, has been shifted to the intensive care unit after his Coronavirus symptoms 'worsened,' Downing Street has said. Johnson, 55, asked UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him as he was moved on Monday to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St Thomas' Hospital in London, a move Downing Street said was a 'precaution' should he require ventilation to aid his recovery.

"Over the course of this afternoon (Monday), the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the ICU at the hospital," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "The Prime Minister has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary," the spokesperson said.