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A child at Alder Hey Children's Hospital is believed to have tested positive for coronavirus.

The ECHO understands that a young child, who was admitted to the Liverpool hospital yesterday, has now been diagnosed with the virus today, March 5.

A staff member who wants to remain anonymous, told the ECHO that a number of staff had been sent home from work this afternoon, after a child tested positive for the disease.

The news comes shortly after two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Liverpool.

The source told the ECHO: "One of the children has got Coronavirus."

It is understood that three staff members in total had been sent home as a result, and that they were not in contact with the child, and are getting paid.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK currently stands at 115.

In a statement this afternoon, Liverpool City Council revealed that two Liverpool residents have tested positive for the potentially deadly virus.

This comes after it was confirmed yesterday that a resident had contracted the virus during a recent trip to northern Italy.

One of the two new cases is believed to be a close relative of the individual who tested positive for the virus yesterday.

While the second confirmed case is believed to have contracted the virus after returning to Liverpool from a trip to Northern Italy.