Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved out of intensive care but remains in hospital, Downing Street has said.
Mr Johnson has been receiving treatment for coronavirus at St Thomas’ Hospital in London since Sunday.
No 10 said he “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”.
A spokesman added: “He is in extremely good spirits.”
He was taken to hospital on Sunday – 10 days after testing positive – and was moved to intensive care on Monday.
BBC political correspondent Jessica Parker said it was expected that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would continue to deputise for the prime minister.
Mr Johnson received “standard oxygen treatment” in intensive care and was not put on a ventilator, Downing Street said earlier.
He “continues to improve” after a “good night” and thanked the NHS for the “brilliant care” he has received, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, applause rang out across the UK in the third “Clap for Carers” event, where people show their appreciation for NHS staff and other workers on the front line of the pandemic.
A total of 7,978 people have now died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 881 on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged the public to stay indoors over this Easter weekend, saying that after almost three weeks of lockdown “we are starting to see the impact of the sacrifices we’ve all made”.
“Let’s not ruin it now,” he added.
Mr Raab said a decision on whether to ease the lockdown measures would not come until “the end of next week”.
‘World-class care’
Giving his reaction to the latest development, US President Donald Trump tweeted it was “great news”, adding “get well Boris!”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “So good that the prime minister is out of intensive care and on the road to recovery. The NHS is there for us all and I know our amazing NHS staff have given him their characteristic world-class care.”
Speaking earlier at the Downing Street daily briefing, Mr Raab said he had not spoken to Mr Johnson since his admission to hospital.
“I think it is important to let him focus on the recovery – we in the government have got this covered,” said Mr Raab.
Mr Raab added that he has “got all the authority I need” to take decisions along with his cabinet colleagues.
