The Prime Minister has been moved to intensive care as he battles coronavirus.

He was admitted to hospital yesterday after testing positive for Covid-19 and having symptoms for more than seven days.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will “deputise where necessary”, a Number 10 spokesman said.

They added: "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.

"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.

"The prime minister has asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is his first secretary of state, to deputise for him where necessary.

"The prime minister is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication."

It came just a few hours after Mr Raab told a press briefing that the PM  remained in charge of the Government despite remaining under observation.

The Conservative Party leader is understood to be conscious and has been moved to the ICU at about 7pm as a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery.

At a press conference less than two hours before the decision was made, Mr Raab told a press briefing that the PM  remained in charge of the Government despite remaining under observation.

More follows.