The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who “continues to be cared for in the intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital” in London, “remains clinically stable and is responding to treatment”.

Boris, who has spent a second night in the ICU, continues to receive “standard oxygen treatment” and is “breathing without any other assistance”, his official spokesman said, adding: “He’s in good spirits.”

When asked about specifics of the his condition and treatment, the spokesman said: “The information in the update we have provided was given to us by St Thomas’ Hospital and it contains all the information that the PM’s medical team consider to be clinically relevant.”

Johnson is not working while in intensive care but has thanked the public for messages of support.

Asked if anyone has been in contact with the him, the spokesman said: “The PM is not working, he’s in intensive care, he has the ability to contact those that he needs to, he’s following the advice of his doctors at all times.

“We are hugely grateful for the messages of support that the Prime Minister has received.

“I think the public response to coronavirus throughout has been fantastic and that has been best exemplified by the applause they’ve been giving to NHS staff every week.”

It has been reported that his treatment is being overseen by the country’s leading lung doctor, Richard Leach, who has taken charge of a pioneering team of consultants monitoring the Premier.

After joining the hospital as a consultant physician in 1994, Leach rose through the ranks and in 2018 was appointed clinical director for pulmonary and critical care medicine; the leader of the most effective respiratory team in Britain. He has also written five leading textbooks on how to keep critically ill patients alive, including The Respiratory System at a Glance.

Whatever happens, It does not seem Boris will be allowed by his doctors to make a speedy return to work. Prof. Anthony Gordon, an intensive care consultant at Imperial College London, warned that it could be “months” before Boris is fit enough to work in a full capacity again.

“When you are seriously ill it does take time to recover,” Gordon told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. “It’s not an all or nothing thing... but it can take many weeks to get back to normal full health, or even months.” He added that when people have been admitted to an ICU, doctors advise patients “to have graded returns to work”.