A PATIENT from Brighton has been diagnosed as suffering from the coronavirus.

The government said the person picked up the infection overseas.

But the Department of Health has declined to confirm any more details.

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A source from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton told The Argus: "Everything is carrying on as normal.

"We've all been told to get our masks ready.

"The patient just walked in with the symptoms and has been shipped off to London."

Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said earlier today: "A further patient has tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of cases in the UK to three.

The Argus:

"The individual did not acquire this in the UK."

The patient had been transferred to a specialist NHS centre and "robust infection control measures" were being used to prevent any further spread of the virus, Professor Whitty added.

The NHS was "well prepared to manage these cases and we are now working quickly to identify any contacts the patient has had,” he said.

All UK hospitals have been told to prepare secure coronavirus zones to ensure “avoid a surge in emergency departments”, a leaked NHS letter has shown.

The letter, dated 31 January, told hospitals to set up “coronavirus priority assessment pods”, which can be decontaminated after each use.

All chief executives and medical directors are instructed to have the pods up and running by Friday, February 7.

Professor Keith Willett, who is leading the NHS’s response to coronavirus, told NHS bosses in the letter: “Plans have been developed to avoid a surge in emergency departments due to coronavirus.