U.K. Prime Minister Is in ICU with Coronavirus After 'Worsening' — but He's Not on a Ventilator

The prime minister 55, is receiving treatment at St. Thomas’s hospital in central London, which stands directly opposite the Houses of Parliament and is little more than a five-minute stroll from the Downing Street home he shares with 32-year-old fiancée Carrie Symonds.

Symonds, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, is also struggling with the symptoms of COVID-19. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, she wrote that she’d spent the past week in bed due to the virus.

“I haven’t needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend,” she wrote.

“Being pregnant with Covid-19 is obviously worrying,” Symonds tweeted in a follow-up post. “To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be v reassuring.”

Despite being hospitalized, a No. 10 spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE Monday that Johnson was continuing to receive updates and briefings.

The spokesperson also confirmed that with Johnson away from Downing Street, the Monday morning meeting of the U.K. government’s coronavirus committee was chaired by Foreign Secretary Raab. A meeting of the British cabinet scheduled for Tuesday has also been postponed.

Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on Monday, Raab told reporters that Johnson was taken to hospital as “a precautionary step as he continues to have persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after first having tested positive for the virus.”

Raab added, “The PM had a comfortable night in hospital and is in good spirits.”

“He’s still in hospital under observation,” he continued. “He’s being given regular updates on developments and he continues to lead the government.”

President Donald Trump is among those to have sent good wishes to Johnson.

“All Americans are praying for him. He’s a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader,” Trump said on Sunday, adding that he was sure the prime minister would be fine because he’s “a strong person”.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer — who was elected leader of the U.K.s opposition Labour party on Saturday — wished the prime minister a “speedy recovery.”

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