Employees at the UK National Lottery's operator have been told to stay at home after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Camelot, which has its head office based in Tolpits Lane, Watford, closed yesterday (Monday) after an employee was diagnosed with Covid-19.

The employee recently returned from Thailand before testing positive for the virus.

Employees at Camelot's head office have been told to work from home.

But the operator, which employs 750 people, has said The National Lottery will "operate as normal".

A spokesperson from Camelot said: "We can confirm that a Camelot employee, who has recently returned from Thailand, has been diagnosed with Covid-19. This colleague is receiving medical advice and we are in continued contact with them.

"In line with Public Health England advice, we have temporarily closed our Watford Head Office while we speak to the relevant authorities to determine next steps.

"Many colleagues have the ability to work from home, and The National Lottery will operate as normal and draws will happen as planned.

"We are advising colleagues who had direct contact with the affected employee to seek medical advice via NHS 111, and to contact their manager if they begin to feel unwell. Our priority is the health of our employees and we are keeping them fully informed of developments, as well as providing them with advice in relation to coronavirus."

As of 9am on Monday, 13 people in Hertfordshire have tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Davenport House Surgery in Harpenden confirmed a case at the beginning of last 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.

The temple was open for darshan from 8am to 8pm yesterday (Sunday 8), but the Festivities for Gaura Purnima & Shree Krishna Haveli opening have been cancelled.

On Thursday (March 5) Watford General Hospital had a patient who tested positive.

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed in a statement dated March 6 that a positive case of Covid-19 was 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."

Six people in the UK diagnosed with Covid-19 have died.