Boris Johnson has praised the “exemplary” care he has received from doctors and nurses during his coronavirus treatment, saying: “I owe them my life.”

Mr Johnson spent his seventh night in hospital after being admitted last Sunday, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

Downing Street has said the prime minister is making “very good progress” in his recovery after being moved out of intensive care, and had been playing games and watching films from his hospital bed.

Fears had grown for Mr Johnson’s health when he was transferred to intensive care on Monday after his condition worsened.

The 55-year-old spent three nights there before Downing Street confirmed he was in the “early phase of his recovery” and had been moved back to a normal hospital ward.

Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with their first child together, sent him letters and baby scans to lift his spirits during his time in intensive care.

The couple have not seen each other since he was admitted to hospital.

Ms Symonds, who is due to give birth in two months, has also been ill with coronavirus symptoms in recent weeks, but she has not been tested for the virus.

Since coming out of intensive care, the prime minister has been able to take short walks between periods of rest while being treated on a low-dependency ward.