UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's COVID-19 condition has 'worsened' and he's been moved to intensive care

Just weeks after being roundly criticized for his flippant public attitude about the threat of the coronavirus, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday was transferred into the intensive care unit of a London hospital as he continues to battle the infectious disease.

According to the latest updates from The Guardian newspaper's live blog:

The decision was made by his medical team after his condition worsened over the course of Monday. The prime minister is understood to be conscious and to have been moved as a precaution in case he needs ventilation.

"Since Sunday evening," said a spokesperson from Johnson's office, "the prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus."

"Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital," the statement continued.

Johnson confirmed he tested positive for the disease, also known as Covid-19, last month.

His diagnosis came just weeks after Johnson bragged about how he "shook hands with everybody" at a recent hospital visit—a kind of braggadocio that public health experts and others said was both "surprising and concerning."

This article was originally published by Common Dreams and written by Jon Queally.

More on Good.is

5 Buddhist teachings that can help you deal with coronavirus anxiety ...

Bernie Sanders supporters raised over $2 million for coronavirus ...

It's time to shut down one of the biggest coronavirus hoaxes - GOOD

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in intensive care with coronavirus ...

Boris Johnson Hospitalized For Testing After Coronavirus Diagnosis ...

Boris Johnson admitted to hospital for coronavirus - POLITICO