Halifax sign on a high street bank building (Photo by: Pauleheult/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

A Halifax bank call centre has been closed for deep cleaning after a worker there tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Up to 1,000 people work at the call centre in the Gasworks area of Belfast city centre, Northern Ireland.

Staff have been asked to self-isolate, work from home, or at a back-up site, according to PA Media.

Lloyds Banking Group, which owns Halifax, said: "The Belfast Gasworks building has been temporarily closed to allow for the appropriate areas of the site to be cleaned, after a colleague based there was diagnosed with COVID-19.

"Our priority is the wellbeing of the individual, as well as the colleagues and visitors to the building. We're closely monitoring the developing situation and continue to follow official guidelines."

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Globally, the death toll from coronavirus is nearing 4,000.

The UK has 319 confirmed cases, with five Britons succumbing to the infection.

In Northern Ireland 12 cases have been diagnosed so far.

The St Patrick's Day festivities in Belfast are among events which have been axed amid efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

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On Monday, Stormont health minister Robin Swann warned that between 50% and 80% of the population could ultimately contract the coronavirus in a worst case scenario.

The coronavirus tends to take five days to cause symptoms, research suggests. Results show most developed the tell-tale flu-like symptoms within five days, while nearly all (97.5%) endured fever, cough and breathlessness within 11.5 days.

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