A MOTHER whose young child came into contact with a doctor with coronavirus says she is "praying" her son is OK.

Stephanie Adlam is in self-isolation with her eight-month-old son James at their Worthing home.

James was taken to Worthing Hospital on February 2 with a small injury after knocking his knee while playing.

But he was treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the illness.

After the check-up, James developed symptoms and health officials told Stephanie he was at risk of contracting coronavirus after coming into "direct, significant contact" with a confirmed case.

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Men in hazmat suits arrived at her house and took them both to hospital in an ambulance for testing.

They are due to receive the test results today.

She told The Sun: "We were put in a room with just two chairs and a phone. We sat there, so scared.

“I just wanted to hold my son and be close to him. I sat there and prayed that he hadn’t got this terrible virus."

After being tested, Stephanie has been self-isolating at home with her son as they await further news on wjether or not he has contracted the illness.

She told the publication: "We have been abandoned. I have to live every moment wondering if he might die."

The mum-of-two continued: "The first thing going through my head is that this thing is going to kill me, my son, my ex-partner and daughter.

“James had a terrible temperature of 38.3C.

“He has an awful cold, a bad cough, his nose has been running.

“My daughter has also been having coughing fits.

“I have been feeling sick. It’s been a living nightmare.”

Five people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Brighton area, the first being a Hove man who travelled back to the area following a business trip to Singapore and a holiday in France.

He returned to the city on January 29.

The Department of Health says more than 2,500 patients have been tested for coronavirus overall, with nine cases confirmed in the UK.

A spokesman for Healthwatch Brighton and Hove said: "Advice from the NHS continues to be that the risk to individuals remains low. 

"Most people who are infected are likely to fully recover – just as they would from a flu.

"NHS services are open as usual across Sussex and measures are in place to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

"If you have recently travelled from a high-risk area and / or develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please do not leave your home and call NHS 111 immediately."

Coronavirus causes "severe acute respiratory infection".

Symptoms of the illness "usually start with a fever, followed by a dry cough".

The spokesman said: "Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease."