The top floors of Governor Phillip Tower in Sydney’s CBD are deserted, following a suspected case of coronavirus at the legal firm King & Wood Mallesons.

The firm’s CEO, Berkely Cox, confirmed the suspected case in a statement issued to 7NEWS.com.au on Thursday, after we gained access to the eerily empty reception area on the 61st floor of the building.

The global firm, which has offices in the US and the Middle East, and several throughout Europe and the Asia Pacific, has about 600 employees in Sydney.

It occupies six floors of the third tallest office building in Sydney.

The office will not reopen again until Monday at the earliest.

The reception area of King & Wood Mallesons’ Sydney office on Thursday. Credit: Kelly Burke

It is believed to be the first major office shutdown in Sydney due to coronavirus.

A spokeswoman for the building’s owner/manager, Dexus, said it had commissioned a “deep sanitary clean” of the legal firm’s offices, and Governor Phillip Tower’s common areas, including the lifts, concierge area, toilets and end-of-trip facilities.

These common areas were still open to the remaining tenants and their clients on Thursday.

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Cox said all Sydney staff had been instructed to work from home.

“There has been at least one suspected case of COVID-19 at King & Wood Mallesons in Sydney,” he said in the statement.

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“The health and safety of our people and the community is our first priority and as a precautionary measure, KWM Australia has directed all our people in Sydney to work remotely until further notice.

“We are supporting our people and working with our clients to avoid or minimise any disruption to the service we provide during this time.”

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause a range of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Some are mild, such as the common cold, while others are more likely to lead to pneumonia.

The latest strain was discovered in the Chinese province of Wuhan.

How do you get coronavirus?

China says the virus is mutating and can be transmitted through human contact.

It’s primarily spread through a sick person coughing or sneezing on someone but a person could also become infected through contact with the virus particles on a surface, NSW Health warns.

What are coronavirus symptoms?

Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Most of those affected are older people and those with underlying health conditions.

How dangerous is the coronavirus?

The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people.

How do you treat coronavirus?

As it stands, there is no vaccine for the virus and because it is new, humans have not been able to build immunity to it.

A group of Melbourne researchers have been tasked with finding a vaccine, while China is testing the HIV drug Aluvia as a treatment.

How do I protect myself from coronavirus?

WHO’s standard recommendations: