Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in a stable and improving condition as he fights coronavirus.
The latest update comes as Mr Johnson spent a third night in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in London.
Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, confirmed there was no deterioration in the Tory leader's condition as of 7am on Thursday.
Mr Johnson has so far been able to avoid being put on a ventilator, the sign of the most serious complications from Covid-19.
Speaking on breakfast radio this morning, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, said: "In terms of the prime minister's condition, it remains as we said yesterday: he's stable, improving, sat up and engaged with medical staff.
"I think things are getting better for him."
Asked about whether the PM will be able to make a decision himself on the lockdown next week, Mr Dowden told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "He's in a stable condition, he seems to be doing reasonably well, he was sat up and engaging with medical staff.
"But we have a well-established mechanism for the first minister Dominic Raab to take the Prime Minister's place in chairing such meetings, he will chair Cobra and he will chair the relevant decisions.
"This is just about going through a proper process, that's why we're waiting for next week."
Mr Johnson, 55, has been battles the deadly virus for 13 days and was taken to hospital on Monday.
