Captain Sir Tom Moore has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been admitted to hospital where he is being treated for pneumonia, his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore has said in a statement.
The 100-year-old, who raised millions of pounds for the NHS, was taken to Bedford hospital on Sunday, after being treated for pneumonia for some time and testing positive for Covid-19 last week.
In a statement posted on his Twitter page, Moore’s family said he had been treated at home until Sunday when he needed additional help with his breathing. The statement said he was being treated in a ward, not on the intensive care unit of the hospital.
The statement continued: “The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible. We understand that everyone will be wishing him well.
“We are of course focusing on my father and will update you when we are able to.”
A spokesperson for the veteran’s family told the BBC that he had not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine because of the medication he has been taking for pneumonia.
Moore’s fundraising efforts during the first national lockdown in April last year raised £38.9m for NHS charities after he pledged to walk 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.
He went on to break two Guinness world records – becoming the oldest person to get a No 1 single in the UK charts and raising the most money ever for doing an individual charity walk – and was knighted by the Queen. He also published an autobiography, Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day, and a children’s picture book, One Hundred Steps.
On his birthday he received more than 225,000 birthday cards and a bombardment of gifts, while in September the centenarian signed a film deal to have a biopic made of his life.
After the news of his hospital admission, there was a flood of well-wishes. Boris Johnson tweeted: “My thoughts are very much with Moore and his family. You’ve inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing you a full recovery.” The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, wrote: “The whole nation hopes you get well soon. You’ve been an inspiration to us all throughout this crisis.”
Michael Ball, who recorded the charity single You’ll Never Walk Alone with Moore, making him the first centenarian to reach the top of the charts, tweeted: “Love and prayers for Moore and his lovely family as he battles this bastard of a virus. Stay strong Sir. We are all here for you.” The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, thanked the NHS staff looking after the war veteran, adding: “Hoping for a speedy recovery and to see Captain Tom back home with his family soon.”
In an interview with the Guardian in December Moore said he was not frightened of the virus, saying he was “not a worrying sort of person”.
He added: “I’ve always believed things will get better. The sun will shine again, the birds will sing and we’ll all have a lovely day tomorrow.”
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