Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street on his way to Buckingham Palace after the general election in London, Britain, December 13, 2019. Thomas Mukoya | Reuters

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson "continues to improve," his spokesman said Thursday, after spending a third night in intensive care with coronavirus. Speaking to journalists, the spokesman also said Johnson had a good night and is "in good spirits." The prime minister, who is currently at at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, has been receiving "standard oxygen treatment," indicating that he is not on a ventilator. Culture Minister Oliver Dowden earlier Thursday commented on Johnson's condition, telling the BBC that Johnson is "stable, improving, sat up and engaged with medical staff," adding: "I think things are getting better for him."

Johnson's battle in hospital comes as the U.K. reported on Wednesday its largest daily rise in deaths so far — 938 fatalities — raising the overall death toll to 7,097 people. The government's emergency committee are convening Thursday to discuss lockdown measures and to review scientific data around the spread of the coronavirus in the U.K. since restrictions on public life were introduced in late March. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is currently deputizing for Johnson and will chair the meeting. Almost all businesses remain closed, except for those deemed essential, and the public have been told to stay at home unless they need to buy food, fetch medicine or exercise once a day. Johnson, 55, was moved to the intensive care unit at St. Thomas' Hospital on Monday evening after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.