UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital more than a week after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

The BBC quoted a UK government spokesperson as saying Johnson, aged 55, is still showing “persistent symptoms of coronavirus.”

The official, however, added that his admission, which was reportedly for tests, was taken as a “precautionary step” based on the advice of a doctor.

The UK prime minister had contracted coronavirus on March 27 and has been in self-isolation.

He said at the time he was only showing mild symptoms of the disease.

Prince Charles of Wales had also tested positive for COVID-19 but later recovered.

At least 47,800 persons in the UK have so far been diagnosed with the disease which has killed a total of 4,934 in that country.

The number of cases globally now stands at 1,265,976 with close to 70,000 deaths and 260,967 recoveries.