A PATIENT at Brighton's hospital has been confirmed to have coronavirus.

The patient admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with an unrelated illness - but tested positive on Sunday as a result of new measures to screen for the infection.

In an email to staff, managing director Dr George Findlay said: “Yesterday, a patient at the Royal Sussex County Hospital tested positive for Covid-19.

“The patient had no risk factors.

“The patient is being treated on an isolation ward at the hospital.

“A small number of colleagues who came into contact with the patients have been identified, are self-isolating and being supported.”

Dr Findlay said the trust had been expecting to treat patients with the disease, adding that staff were trained in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and following Public Health England Advice.

The latest information from Public Health England confirmed there were now seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Brighton and Hove and three cases in West Sussex.

There are now 319 confirmed cases across the country.

PHE said: “As of 9am on 9 March 2020, 24,960 people have been tested in the UK, of which 24,641 were confirmed negative and 319 were confirmed as positive.

“Three patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have died.”

Dr Findlay’s letter continued: “[The patient] did not come into hospital with suspected coronavirus, but were identified following the recent measures introduced by Public Health England which require trusts to screen certain patient groups admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness.”

“As an acute trust we expected that at some point we would care for patients with Covid-19.

“we are pre[pared to do this and colleagues are highly trained and experienced in caring for patients with infectious diseases and preventing the spread of viruses.

“As healthcare professionals I know you will continue to provide reassurance to patients and visitors.”