A DORSET gym has confirmed that a member has been 'diagnosed with coronavirus'.

An email sent to members of The Gym Poole, which operates in a unit in Nuffield Industrial Estate, on Sunday evening said the facility would be closed for a deep clean.

Earlier yesterday Public Health England confirmed that there were two cases of COVID-19 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area - the first in Dorset.

It has not been confirmed if the member of The Gym Poole is one of these two cases.

The email to gym members said: "Unfortunately, we have been made aware that a member of The Gym Poole has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Your welfare is of the utmost priority to us, so we have taken the decision to close the gym temporarily."

It is expected the gym, which first opened in the latter months of 2019, will be closed for up to three days, according to The Gym Group's email.

This closure will allow the facility to be "deep cleaned in accordance with guidance from Public Health England".

As of Sunday, March 8, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the south west was 35 and the UK stood at 273.

The letter in full:

 Along with the rest of the country. The Gym Group are reviewing the coronavirus situation regularly and taking measures within our gyms, following advice issued by Public Health England.

Unfortunately, we have been made aware that a member of The Gym Poole has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Your welfare is of the utmost priority to us, so we have taken the decision to close the gym temporarily.

During the closure the entire gym will be deep cleaned in accordance with guidance from Public Health England. We estimate that the gym will only be closed for three days but as soon as a reopening date is confirmed we'll send you an email and update the gym page on our website We will not be providing access to an alternative gym but if you are a LIVE IT. member then you can continue to access your other chosen gyms as normal.

We ask that you bear with us whilst we address this incident and apologise for any inconvenience caused. We are taking the coronavirus situation very seriously and we want to make sure you can train safely with us again soon. We remain vigilant to government updates and we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust any measures accordingly.

If you feel unwell, or have travelled to any of the high risk countries, please follow the advice by Public Health England and contact NHS 111 with any concerns. Once The Gym Poole has reopened, please continue to observe this advice in deciding whether it is appropriate for you to attend The Gym.

Public Health England guidance can be found here.

If you have any questions about your membership please visit contact us via email at hello@thegymgroup.com Thank you for your assistance and understanding.