Boris Johnson has praised the "exemplary" care he has received from doctors and nurses during his coronavirus treatment, saying: "I owe them my life."

Hailing the work of medics at St Thomas' Hospital in London, the prime minister said: "I can't thank them enough."

Mr Johnson spent his seventh night in hospital after being admitted last Sunday, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

Image: Mr Johnson is being treated at St Thomas' Hospital in London

Downing Street has said the prime minister is making "very good progress" in his recovery after being moved out of intensive care, and had been playing games and watching films from his hospital bed.

There has been no update on when he is likely to be discharged.


Mr Johnson's remarks came after it was confirmed another 917 coronavirus patients had died in hospitals in the UK - including an 11-year-old - bringing the country's total number of deaths to 9,875.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that at least 19 NHS workers were among those to have died after contracting COVID-19.

At the daily Downing Street news conference on Saturday, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was "sorry if people feel there have been failings" in providing personal protective equipment to NHS staff.

'I'm sorry if people feel there have been failures'

Fears had grown for Mr Johnson's health when he was transferred to intensive care on Monday after his condition worsened.

The 55-year-old spent three nights there before Downing Street confirmed he was in the "early phase of his recovery" and had been moved back to a normal hospital ward.

Mr Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with their first child together, sent him letters and baby scans to lift his spirits during his time in intensive care.

Image: Carrie Symonds has been sending letters and baby scans to the prime minister in hospital. Pic:Javier Garcia/BPI/Shutterstock

The couple have not seen each other since he was admitted to hospital.

Ms Symonds, who is due to give birth in two months, has also been ill with coronavirus symptoms in recent weeks, but she has not been tested for the virus.

Since coming out of intensive care, the prime minister has been able to take short walks between periods of rest while being treated on a low-dependency ward.

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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is deputising for the prime minister in his absence.

Sky News political correspondent Rob Powell said Number 10 had difficult decisions to make about re-involving Mr Johnson in the fight against COVID-19.

He said: "The balance for the government will be taking the medical advice that the prime minister is getting at St Thomas' Hospital - taking that seriously, and allowing him enough time to recuperate fully, but also at some point maybe looking to involve him in some of the decision making."