A surgery that shut without warning has had eight staff members test positive for coronavirus, it has been revealed.

The New Surgery in Folkestone suddenly closed on Monday, leaving thousands of patients with no way to contact their GP.

The only explanation given at the time was 'staff sickness', with residents advised to call 111 in the interim.

Now, a message on the surgery's website has revealed that a total of eight members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The positive results meant that all of the other staff members also had to self isolate, meaning the surgery will have to remain closed until Monday November 23.

The announcement read: "A deep clean has been carried out after eight members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

"As a result The New Surgery will only be able to provide a much reduced number of telephone appointments due to 25% staffing capacity.

"The remaining unaffected members of staff are also required to self-isolate and the practice has to remain closed.

"During the closure, The New Surgery can only provide telephone appointments with a reduced number of clinicians."

Anyone hoping to contact the practice can do so online, with telephone appointments available to be booked via eConsult. Anyone hoping to submit prescription requests is asked to either do so online, via email, or through their pharmacy rather than submitting prescription requests through the surgery door.

Any sick notes that were previously requested must be resubmitted and will be backdated when the surgery reopens.

The announcement concludes: "If your query is able to wait until the 23 November we would be exceedingly grateful.

"Thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding at this difficult time."

A spokesman for NHS Kent and Medway CCG said: “During the closure, The New Surgery can only provide telephone appointments with a much reduced number of clinicians.

“eConsult can be used to contact the practice and is available via the practice’s website. If patients are unable to use online services and have a medical query they should ring 111.

“Patients requiring prescriptions should not post these through the front door. They should instead be requested online or through a pharmacy. More details are on the practice’s website.

“The decision to take this step has been clinically-led and is supported by partners across the wider health and care system. We would like to thank all patients for their understanding during this exceptionally difficult time.”

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone