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Moore, who raised more than 30 million pounds ($41 million)by
walking 100 lengths of his garden during last year's lockdown,
was admitted to Bedford hospital after testing positive for the
virus, his daughter said on Sunday.
"You've inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing
you a full recovery," Johnson said on Twitter, adding his
thoughts were with Moore and his family.
The World War Two veteran caught the public's imagination in
April, just before his 100th birthday, when he was filmed doing
his sponsored walk with the help of a walking frame around his
garden in the village of Marston Moretaine, 80kms (50 miles)
north of London.
He hoped to raise 1,000 pounds. Instead, he raised some 33
million pounds for the National Health Service, broke two
Guinness world records, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, scored
a No. 1 single, wrote an autobiography and helped set up a
charity.
"Pray for Tom", the Sun tabloid's front page headline said, a
message echoed by other papers who also carried prominent
pictures and stories about Moore.
Moore went on vacation with his family to Barbados in December
but his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said that over the last
few weeks he had been treated for pneumonia, and last week
tested positive for COVID-19.
"He was at home with us until today when he needed additional
help with his breathing. He is being treated in a ward, although
he is not in ICU (intensive care unit)," she said on Twitter.
Britain is currently vaccinating all its elderly population
against the coronavirus, but Sky News quoted a family
representative as saying Moore had not yet received a shot
because he was being treated for pneumonia.
Messages of support came in from politicians and the likes of
the British army, the England soccer team and Michael Ball, with
whom he joined to record a number one single with a cover
version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
"My thoughts are with @captaintommoore and his loving family and
friends," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of
the World Health Organization, said on Twitter.
"You and the @NHSuk health professionals supporting you are true
heroes and shining examples of the spirit needed to overcome
#COVID19."
($1 = 0.7285 pounds)
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alistair Smout and
Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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