Heathrow Airport has proposed Britain should set up “travel bubbles” with low-risk countries exempt from the requirement.

Johnson's office says Symonds gave birth to a ``healthy baby boy at a London hospital'' on Wednesday morning, and both mother and baby are doing well.

The official number of deaths related to COVID-19 in hospitals across the United Kingdom rose to 20,732, up by 413 in 24 hours, while confirmed cases stood at 152,840, up by 4,463.

Britain was slower than many other European countries to impose mandatory restrictions on business and daily life to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Authorities and experts say both infections and virus deaths have been under-reported almost everywhere.

Britain's support for the WHO contrasts with the view of U.S. President Donald Trump who has criticized its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic with suggestions his administration might re-evaluate U.S. funding.

“He has to take time,” Stanley Johnson told the BBC.

An update on the prime minister's condition is expected later Thursday.

Johnson was admitted to hospital on Sunday in what his office said was a "precautionary step" after testing positive 10 days ago and still suffering from a high temperature.

Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy’s Civil Protection agency on Sunday, said there were 525 deaths in the 24-hour period since Saturday evening.