Captain Sir Tom Moore tests positive for COVID
Captain Sir Tom Moore has tested positive for Covid-19 and is in hospital where he is being treated for pneumonia.
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore revealed in a statement that the beloved 100-year-old, who has raised millions of pounds for the NHS, was taken to a hospital in Bedford on Sunday.
Following his bout with pneumonia for some time, he tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Moore’s family said he was being treated at his home until he needed additional help with his breathing.
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. CNN
“We are of course focusing on my father and will update you when we are able to.”
A spokesperson for the Moore’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 is an iconic figure in the UK, raising £38.9 million for NHS charities in April of 2020 after pledging to walk 100 laps of his gardens before his 100th birthday.
He went on to break two Guinness world records by becoming the oldest person to get a No 1 single in the UK charts and raising the most money ever for doing a charity walk.
He has also been knighted by the Queen.
If that was not enough, the 100-year-old 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.
Boris Johnson took to Twitter to wish the 100-year-old well wishes: “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.”
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.”
In an interview with the Guardian in December Moore told reporters 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.”