Prime Minister of the UnitedKingdom Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital due to coronavirus aftersuffering 10 days of symptoms including a high fever, bringing doubts about hiscapability to lead the response to the pandemic despite No 10 insisting it waspurely precautionary.

Johnson was taken to an unnamedLondon hospital on Sunday after days of persistent symptoms, during which timehe has been self-isolating. Last week No 10 had denied the prime minister wasmore seriously ill than claimed.

"On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus. Johnson would stay in hospital "as long as needed", a Downing Street spokesperson said.