A WORKER at a Hove charity is understood to have a confirmed case of coronavirus – but colleagues were called to a face-to-face meeting to notify them.

Staff at the Frontline Aids charity, in Preece House, Davigdor Road, were emailed on Sunday evening to tell them a co-worker had been diagnosed with the virus.

They were then told to attend a meeting in the office on Monday lunchtime.

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A source told The Argus that some of those in the meeting were showing symptoms including fever and coughing, but were told they must stay at work.

The source said: “They received an email on Sunday saying there was a confirmed case and that all staff were to attend a meeting on Monday at 12. At the meeting there were at least two people with fevers and several coughing.

“At the meeting management told everyone to carry on as normal. “Staff raised concerns but were told they should only go into isolation if they were suffering from both fever and a cough.

“Management were saying that staff should be concerned for their jobs if they leave.”

Preece House is the base for several companies in addition to Frontline Aids. It is next door to the Montefiore private hospital.

Christine Stegling, executive director at Frontline AIDS, said: "We can confirm that a team member based at our Hove office is currently self-isolating in line with government guidance, and we are fully supportive of their decision to do so. The team member has not been in the office since Tuesday, March 10.

"The well-being of our staff is one of our utmost priorities, and we are doing everything possible to ensure our team members understand and are following the latest guidance.

"Over recent weeks, we have encouraged staff to stay away from the office and to alert their line manager and 111 if they are concerned about exposure or if they have symptoms. 

"Meetings are being streamed online so that people can participate virtually, and we have stepped up our usual cleaning processes.

"Staff have also been reassured that requests to work from home will be favourably received, and indeed today all staff are working from home.

"It goes without saying that no one has been told their job is at risk. That is not who we are.

"This is a fast-moving crisis and we understand that many people are feeling anxious.

"We will continue to provide every support we can to our team members, and to adapt quickly to any changes in government guidance."