The good news: Gov. Patrick is well. The bad news: this state is sick!

Governor Deval Patrick is in “good condition, alert, and resting comfortably’’ after successful hip replacement surgery yesterday at Massachusetts General Hospital, his surgeon said.

The procedure lasted about 2 1/2 hours and there were no complications, said Dr. Harry Rubash.

Patrick will have to remain in the hospital four to five days, then undergo a few weeks of outpatient rehabilitation, Rubash, the chief of orthopedic surgery at Mass. General, said in a statement.

Patrick’s left hip, painful and debilitating due mostly to arthritis, needed to be replaced. He first injured it in Sudan more than 30 years ago.

Patrick, 53, reported to the hospital at 6 a.m. yesterday and gave a thumbs-up to TV cameras as he went in, said spokeswoman Becky Deusser.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray has taken the reins of government in the interim. Patrick has said Murray would serve as acting governor for a day or two, Deusser said.

Tim Murray's in charge? Holy @#$%!

UPDATE: Please join us Wednesday night for The Notes on BlogTalkRadio; our guest will be Stephanie Davis of PatriotGamesMedia.com and RFCRadio.com. Plus, more from the Herald and New York Times.

SECOND UPDATE: More from the Boston Herald.

THIRD UPDATE: More from CQPolitics.com, WBUR, Holly Robichaud, New York Times and American Thinker.