THE Prime Minister’s health was continuing to improve after he spent a third night in hospital.

Boris Johnson was still being treated in St Thomas’s Hospital in London on Thursday but was said to be “in good spirits” after being admitted to intensive care earlier this week.

Mr Johnson, who has tested positive for coronavirus, was being given oxygen but has not been on a ventilator.

Speaking at Thursday’s daily government briefing, his deputy Dominic Raab said the PM continued to make “positive steps”.

Mr Raab, the Foreign Secretary, also said that nationwide lockdown measures would have to stay in place “until we have got evidence that shows we have moved beyond the peak” of the virus.

“We mustn’t give the coronavirus a second chance to kill more people,” said Mr Raab.

“I know it is tough going but this is a team effort.”

The government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the measures the UK is taking are preventing transmission of the virus and keeping cases in hospital down.

He said new cases have “not gone sky high and if anything there might be some flattening”.

Sir Patrick also said we were beginning to see the first signs of this “levelling off” in hospital admissions.

The government is also planning to formally recognise the work of frontline workers but does not yet have specific plans for how to do so.

Confirmed coronavirus cases around the world have now passed 1.5 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University

Almost 90,000 people have died with the virus.

And Oxfam has warned that the outbreak could push half a billion people into poverty.

A doctor diagnosed with coronavirus has died - three weeks after writing a letter to the Prime Minister warning that health workers urgently needed more personal protective equipment (PPE).

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, passed away after 15 days in hospital with COVID-19.

Meanwhile it was reported on Thursday that parties with DJs, fireworks, and bouncy castles were among 660 house and street gatherings to have taken place in Greater Manchester last weekend.

Another 122 groups of people playing sport were also reported to police.

English Football League clubs have been told the season can be completed in just 56 days when it is safe to resume

But British theatres could need up to three months’ notice before they are able to reopen, the chair of the Arts Council warned.