A ward was evacuated at Watford General Hospital after a patient tested positive for Covid-19.

A source says a part of Watford General Hospital was evacuated last night when it was discovered there was a case of coronavirus.

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust has confirmed in a statement dated March 6 that a positive case of Covid-19 has been identified at Watford General.

The trust said: "It has been confirmed that a positive case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been identified on one of our inpatient wards at Watford General Hospital.

"As a result, all of the patients who were on the same ward have been moved and a deep clean, which will be carried out in line with strict guidance from Public Health England, is being carried out.

"An extensive ‘contact tracing’ exercise is now underway to trace anyone who might have had close (face to face) contact with the patient who has now tested positive for COVID-19."

The trust has said in a message to its employees that this case is "not unexpected" adding they trust staff to "remain calm" and "work together" to meet this challenge.

A source has told the Observer nurses last night were told to self-isolate, with the trust's message adding that colleagues from the ward affected are now self-isolating.

The source added that the ward was left completely empty and went through a deep clean procedure.

The trust added: "Close contacts to the patient concerned will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after they had contact with the confirmed case.

"This tried and tested method will ensure that any risk to them is minimised and the wider public is protected.

"Based on current evidence, COVID-19 presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing." 

Chief Nurse Tracey Carter said: “To protect yourself, please be scrupulous with your hygiene and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and use and then bin tissues if you cough or sneeze. Thorough hand washing will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, the Observer has seen a short video clip of a person in a white protective suit and mask hosing down an ambulance in Watford, but we can confirm this did not take place at Watford General.

We understand there are now a minimum of five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Hertfordshire.

Davenport House Surgery in Harpenden confirmed a case at the beginning of this week, while a parent at Peartree Spring Primary School in Stevenage also tested positive.

Then, Woolgrove School Special Needs Academy in Letchworth said a parent had tested positive for Covid-19.

Bhaktivedanata Manor Hare Krishna Temple, near Bushey, is currently shut after a worshipper tested positive - although the temple says they have not been at the manor.

And now a case has been confirmed at Watford General.

Today, the Department for Health confirmed as of 9am today, there were 163 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK, with at least one death related to the virus.

A patient aged in their 70s with underlying health issues died, the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading confirmed.

Follow our live-blog for more updates on the coronavirus outbreak.