Fact check: No, British PM Boris Johnson has not passed away due to COVID-19

After British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the St Thomas' Hospital in London last night, fake news of his demise has been making rounds on social media. No, he has not passed away. He is very much alive.

In fact, BBC on Tuesday quoted a Downing Street spokesperson saying that Johnson "has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits".

"He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance," he said.

The spokesperson said that Johnson's condition did not require the use of "mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support".

"Johnson does not have pneumonia,” Downing Street added.

Earlier in the day, local TV channel ran news of the British prime minister’s demise from coronavirus while quoting a fake twitter account of BBC World.

The fake news report had set social media abuzz followed by speculations from journalists and other twitterati about the credibility of the news.

Britain’s 55-year-old prime minister had tested positive for coronavirus on March 27 and was self-isolating in his Downing Street flat.

On Sunday, when his symptoms showed no signs of letting up, he was hospitalised. A day later, he was moved to intensive care when his symptoms began to worsen.