UK PM Boris Johnson, recuperating from COVID-19, returns to Downing Street

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has returned to Downing Street, after recovering from COVID-19 -- to take charge of the UK's response to the pandemic outbreak in the country.

The 55-year-old has been recuperating at his prime ministerial countryside retreat at Chequers in Buckinghamshire since he was discharged on April 12 and had put UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in charge as his deputy.

Johnson was admitted for a week in St Thomas' Hospital in central London on April 5, including three nights in intensive care.

Johnson will now resume full-time duties, although it is unclear at this stage whether he will lead the press briefing on Monday on the country's fight against the coronavirus.

He, however, is expected to chair the regular morning Cabinet meeting on Covid-19 on Monday before holding talks with senior ministers and officials.

The prime minister is under immense pressure to start finalising plans to ease the severe social distancing restrictions in place at least until May 7, when the government is legally bound to review the lockdown measures.

The UK on Sunday reported 413 deaths, taking the total number of fatalities in the country's hospitals to 20,732.