Staff are working from home while a 'deep clean' takes place in the building. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Coronavirus latest: South Mall office sends staff home following 'close contact' with a confirmed case

Staff working in the KPMG offices at 85 South Mall have been sent home after it emerged that someone in the building was in “close contact” with a confirmed case of Covid-19.

Staff are working from home while a 'deep clean' takes place in the building.

"Our landlord in Cork has recommended that each of the tenants of 85 South Mall stay out of the building today so a deep clean of the facility can be completed," a spokesperson said.

"We understand that an individual who works in the building has been in “close contact” with an individual in Cork University Hospital who has been confirmed with Covid 19.

"As a precautionary measure, we have asked all our staff in our Cork office to work from home today."

It is not yet known whether staff will return to work after the cleaning is completed, with the company to 'monitor the situation'.

"The health and wellbeing of our people and the wider community is our primary concern and we will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with our landlord and the health authorities," the spokerperson said.