A south-east London MP has said he hopes Boris Johnson’s admission to an intensive care unit for treatment related to coronavirus acts as a “wake-up call” to those flouting social distancing precautions.

Orpington MP Gareth Bacon told BBC Radio London “if the most senior man in the land is not immune to the effects of this virus, that means that nobody is”.

Mr Bacon, who was elected to Parliament last year in a constituency previously held for the Conservatives by the Prime Minister’s brother Jo, added the Tory leader’s “devotion to duty” would put him in good stead in his recovery from the deadly illness.

“I mean he even came to his front door on Thursday evening to applaud the NHS,” Mr Bacon told BBC Radio London.

“That was duty and personal feeling, he genuinely loves the NHS.

“So he will be wanting to get better as quickly as he can, primarily so he can come back to being what he has always been as long as I’ve known him, which is somebody full of life, energy and optimism, and this country needs that right now.”

“I mean if the most senior man in the land is not immune to the effects of this virus, that means that nobody is.”

While he said “the overwhelming majority” of residents were doing the right thing in regards to social distancing, “to those who are still not taking this virus seriously, I hope this will be your wake-up call”.

“The Government’s message all along has been to protect the NHS, save lives and stay home,” he said.

“If for nothing else, when they wake up to the news tomorrow morning about the Prime Minister being in intensive care, thy will start to think about their behaviour.”

The Tory leader was said to be in “good spirits” after spending the night in intensive care receiving treatment for symptoms of Covid-19.

The Government announced on Tuesday that 789 more people in the UK have died from the virus, bringing the total to more than 6000.