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Linda Lusardi’s husband Sam Kane has shared a promising update about her health, as she remains in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

Last week, Linda and Sam were both hospitalised after showing symptoms of coronavirus, with the former Loose Women presenter claiming she’d “never felt so ill” in her life.

Sam has since returned home and begun self-isolating, while Linda remains in hospital, but he has been sharing updates about her condition on his Facebook page.

In his latest post, he suggested that while the former glamour model has “still got a long way to go”, he also affirmed his belief that she has “beaten the virus now”.

“My beautiful girl has dropped her oxygen intake today which is amazing news,” he explained on Thursday night. “She’s still got a long way to go but these baby steps are on a roll now.

“I truly believe she’s beaten the virus now and her body is concentrating on healing itself after the battle. She’s a fighter and she will win this.”

He added: “Your messages and prayers are incredible. Your support has been so strong and wonderful and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

“The most enormous thank you to all of the NHS staff who continue to help get my girl back to health. You’re all angels. To all of our close and dear friends who have sent so much love and support and helped over and above.”

In a previous update, Sam urged people to take the pandemic more seriously, insisting: “I can’t stress enough that this is not ‘just a flu bug’. I’ve watched this take my girl to death’s door. I’ve felt it take me there.

“It’s a cruel, vile, remorseless, relentless, dark sickness. It was like three hands. One that’s strangling you. One pushing your face down as it does. The other one ripping your heart out of your chest and it just doesn’t stop… for days. You’re totally helpless and in its grasp.

“It’s nothing like flu. Please stop going out. Passing this around will mean it just takes longer till we’re back to normal. Please stay safe people. Two weeks away from anyone else outside your family should see this gone. It’s that simple. Please stay in.”