Employees of Sheffield Council will continue to be paid if they have to self-isolate due to the coronavirus

‘Self-isolation’ is part of a national strategy designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, commonly known as the coronavirus.

Those who are deemed to be at risk of having the virus have to stay at home, even if they are symptom free.

Greg Fell, director for public health, said: "Our advice to council employees follows the national guidelines, which is if you have visited a specific area you must self-isolate for two weeks. As a council we will continue to pay our employees if they are required to self-isolate."

He added: "We are proactively putting soap and hand sanitizer dispensers in council buildings and continue to encourage all staff to follow NHS 111 advice, washing their hands and the catch it, bin it, kill it approach.

“Anyone who has concerns about taking sick leave and their pay should refer to the national guidance online.”

Nationally, confirmed cases of the virus continue to rise, and two people in the United Kingdom have now died from it.

Symptoms of the virus are similar to those of a cold or flu and include: a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath.

If you think you have the virus, have returned from an area with high risk of coronavirus within the last 14 days or if you have been in close contact with someone with coronavirus, call the NHS helpline 111.