A children's outpatient department at a major hospital has been forced to close after a coronavirus scare.

The facility, at Margate's Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (QEQM) hospital, has shut for a deep clean after someone presenting symptoms of the deadly illness is thought to have visited.

An NHS spokesman said: "The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital is open as usual and patients should continue to attend their outpatient appointments and planned procedures.

"Some appointments are being relocated while the Broadstairs Suite is temporarily closed to enable a clean as a precautionary measure.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused."

At least one case of the coronavirus strain now known as Covid-19 has been confirmed in Kent.

Just two days after the first case in Kent was confirmed, the Department for Health has announced on Twitter it will now stop providing daily updates on the location of each new case.

The employee, who had recently returned from Italy, was in the building last week and tested positive on Sunday evening. The premises was shut for a deep clean.

In Faversham, a number of pupils at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School are in isolation after it was confirmed a family member is fighting Covid-19.

Bosses at the school have revealed an individual - believed to be a parent - has been diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus.

It is not yet known whether the individual is the same person who was linked to Maidstone Studios.

As of today, a total of 87 people in the UK have been diagnosed with the virus, of 16,659 who have been tested nationally - but .

UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK from low to moderate.

NHS England has been approached for more information.

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