The Prime Minister says he is "absolutely delighted" to announce that dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, has been approved for treatment for Covid-19.

He says he is "proud of these British scientists, backed by UK Government funding, who led the first robust clinical trial anywhere in the world".

Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford, said that the new drug reduces risk of death by 35% on ventilated patients over the course of a 10-day treatment.

"It is the only drug so far shown to reduce mortality and it reduces it significantly,” he added.

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