A Newcastle Falcons executive director who was admitted to hospital after struggling with his breathing says he hopes to be allowed home soon.
Mick Hogan was put on oxygen at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, in Cramlington, over the weekend and remained there on Sunday.
He was awaiting test results to see if he had contracted coronavirus or not.
However on Monday, he appeared to have improved and said he had come off oxygen.
He went on to thank NHS staff for their care and urged people to stay at home to help save lives.
In a message to his Twitter followers, he said: "Off the oxygen and looking forward to getting home soon. Thanks for all the kind messages of support. They really lifted my spirits.
"Thanks to all the NHS staff at Cramlington who have been brilliant.
"Please support them by staying home and doing your bit. Stay safe everyone."
He previously told how he had been "so well looked after" in hospital and staff had been doing an "incredible" job.
Scores of people have been wishing Mr Hogan well and have posted messages on social media, saying "get well soon".
