British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (55), who was in the hospital due to persistent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, has been taken into intensive care after his condition worsened.

Johnson was moved to the ICU at St Thomas’ Hospital in London with a persistent cough and fever. He is one of the first world leaders diagnosed with COVID-19. However, he has not been put on a ventilator.

The British Prime Minister had earlier tweeted from his hospital bed on April 6th, 2020 to say that he was in “good spirits” and staying in contact with his team to fight against the highly contagious virus.

Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to “deputise for him where necessary,” giving Raab the power if needed to run the British government during this health crisis.

Johnson had been in quarantine at his official residence since testing positive for coronavirus on the night of March 26th, 2020. He has no known underlying health conditions.

Photo: Twitter