U.K. PM moved to ICU

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to an intensive care unit on Monday after his coronavirus symptoms worsened though his Downing Street office said he was still conscious.

Britain has no formal succession plan should the prime minister become incapacitated, but Johnson, 55, has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him.

Johnson, 55, was admitted to hospital Sunday night and had been undergoing tests after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature, for more than 10 days.

Downing Street had said he was in good spirits and still in charge, though his condition deteriorated in the early evening and he was transferred to an intensive care unit — where the most serious cases are treated — at St. Thomas hospital in central London.

Johnson received oxygen, a source said.

"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," a spokesman for his office said.

"The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputize for him where necessary," Downing Street said. "The PM remains conscious at this time."

Downing Street said he had been moved to the intensive care unit as "a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery." Queen Elizabeth had been kept informed by Downing Street, Buckingham Palace said.

Sterling fell by nearly a cent against the U.S. dollar on the news. The pound fell to as low as $1.221, from $1.230 earlier.

Johnson tested positive for the virus on March 26 but after 10 days of isolation in an apartment at Downing Street, he was still fighting the virus on Sunday evening with a high temperature and persistent cough.

His spokesman had earlier refused to answer directly after being asked whether he had pneumonia. But his move to intensive care confirmed the gravity of the situation.

"There is no doubt this turn of events means Boris Johnson is extremely sick," said Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging at University College London.

"One of the features of COVID-19 in all countries seems to be that many more men become seriously ill than women — especially in the over 40 age group. Also we know that people under about 60 seem to have a higher chance of making a recovery from critical illness with COVID-19 than older people."

British and world leaders wished Johnson well.

"I send all my support to Boris Johnson, to his family and to the British people at this difficult moment," said French President Emmanuel Macron. "I wish him a speedy recovery at this testing time."

Theresa May, Johnson's predecessor as prime minister, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with Boris Johnson and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital."

Stand-in leader Raab, 46, said the British government would continue to make sure Johnson's plans for defeating the coronavirus outbreak were carried out while he receives treatment.