The Prime Minister is understood to be in “extremely good spirits” after moving to a ward in St Thomas’ Hospital for “close monitoring” to recover from coronavirus after leaving the high-dependency unit. Mr Johnson has been in the central London hospital since Sunday after his condition deteriorated following a ten-day battle with COVID-19.

Now it has emerged that Mr Johnson’s first thought was his pregnant wife-to-be Carrie Symonds and other family members, whom he called straight away, according to The Sun.

He is said to have been well enough to make calls after doctors handed him back his two phones.

Ms Symonds, 32, is due to give birth to her first child with Mr Johnson in early Summer after the pair announced their pregnancy earlier this year.

The environmental campaigner had been living with Mr Johnson in Downing Street before the prime minister went into isolation on March 27.

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Last night Ms Symonds posted a picture of a rainbow and a string of clapping emojis on Twitter to show her appreciation for the NHS in time with the Clap for Carers at 8pm.

Mr Johnson’s father Stanley Johnson has also given an update on his son’s condition.

Mr Johnson said his son will need a period of rest after he was moved from the intensive care unit and the whole family was “amazingly grateful” for the efforts of the NHS and the huge outpouring of support for the PM.

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He said the Prime Minister’s illness had underlined just how serious the coronavirus outbreak was.

Mr John son told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now.

He played down suggestions that his son would now quickly return to work at Downing Street.

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He said: “This is pretty straightforward now. He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don’t think you can say this is out of the wood now.

“He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.”

In a statement from Downing Street, Mr Johnson, 55, heaped praise on the NHS.

His spokesman said last night: “The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.

“He is in extremely good spirits.

“The Prime Minister thanks the NHS for the brilliant care which it is providing.

“The claps for carers have provided wonderful, unifying moments for the entire country.”

“I’m sure that tonight we will once again see people in their millions paying tribute to our fantastic dedicated care workers.”

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