AN A&E worker treated patients for two days before being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The Worthing Hospital worker was confirmed to have the disease yesterday.

He is one of five people infected with the virus in Sussex.

A memo to other staff at the hospital reveals they treated “a small number of patients” on February 4 and 5.

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The memo said: “It has been confirmed that a healthcare professional who works regularly in the Accident and Emergency Unit (A&E) at Worthing Hospital has tested positive for coronavirus (2019-nCov).

“They treated a small number of patients on 4th and 5th February before they became unwell, followed advice and self isolated.

“Public Health England is contacting all patients seen by this healthcare worker, and all colleagues who came into contact with them, to advise on the precautions they need to take. The risk to other staff is extremely low.

“The hospital is also following PHE guidance and all services are operating normally.”

It is understood the healthcare worker at Worthing Hospital is not the same person as the locum doctor working in Brighton, who is also one of the eight cases.

The memo has now been published on Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's website.

The trust said That nyone who is concerned can contact NHS 111 for advice and people should not attend A&E if you are experiencing symptoms.

Everyone is reminded to follow PHE advice: