A South Wales Police officer has been diagnosed with coronavirus and is self-isolating at home.

Merthyr Tydfil Police Station, where the officer is based, was closed on Tuesday night for a deep clean to be carried out.

South Wales Police said staff resumed their normal duties at the station on Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson for the force said: "South Wales Police can confirm that an officer based in Merthyr Tydfil Police Station has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and is self-isolating at home.

"As a precaution, the station on Rhydycar Business Park was closed last night (Tuesday 10th March).

"A deep clean has been carried out and staff resumed normal duties from there this morning.

"The force has been in close consultation with Public Health Wales and the policing service to the local community was unaffected by the temporary closure."

On Wednesday, Public Health Wales said the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales had risen to 19.

Workers staff the phone lines at the Public Health Wales call centre in Cardiff, which has been set to provide advice and information to people about the coronavirus outbreak Credit: PA

Across the UK, 456 people have tested positive for the virus and six patients have died.

On Wednesday morning, the Bank of England announced an emergency interest rate cut from 0.75% to 0.25% to help UK businesses manage the economic shock from the outbreak.

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