U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson discharged from hospital

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from the hospital, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers,” the spokesperson said. “On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St. Thomas’ for the brilliant care he has received.”

The spokesperson added: “All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness.”

Johnson’s fiancée, Carrie Symonds, thanked the British National Health Service after a “very dark” week, she said Sunday in a series of tweets following his discharge from the hospital.

Symonds said, “I cannot thank our magnificent NHS enough. The staff at St Thomas’ Hospital have been incredible. I will never, ever be able to repay you and I will never stop thanking you.”

Johnson issued a statement Saturday thanking the National Health Service staff at St. Thomas’ Hospital following his treatment for coronavirus, saying “I can’t thank them enough. I owe them my life,” according to the UK Press Association.

This is the first known statement from the Prime Minister since he entered hospital last Sunday night.

Some context: Johnson announced he tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 27. He said he was experiencing “mild symptoms” and would continue leading the country, while self-isolating in his apartment in Downing Street.

But 10 days later, 10 Downing Street announced the 55-year-old was not getting better and was taken to St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. He was moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) the next day after his condition deteriorated.

Johnson spent three nights in intensive care and received “standard oxygen treatment,” according to his spokesman, but did not require mechanical or invasive ventilation.

He was moved out of the ICU on Thursday night. On Friday, a spokesperson said the Prime Minister was “able to do short walks” in between periods of rest and waved his thanks to staff.