Video: Derry hospital boss Dr. Anne Kilgallen - Ward functions and access changed to prepare for COVID-19

She said visitors to the local health authority's hospital sites should not be surprised to find some changes that have been deliberately planned to deal with the outbreak.

"In the Trust we have extensive planning arrangements in place. You will notice some changes in our services. For example, we may change the way the public access some of our hospital sites.

"We have changed the function of some of our Ward areas. You should not be surprised if you come to visit any of our sites and you find that the way-finding of signs have been changed.

"All of these changes are part of our plans and our preparedness," she said on Wednesday.

Dr. Kilgallen reminded people of the importance of good hand hygiene and social distancing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"These are exceptional times and we in the Western Trust have been working hard to prepare and to organise our staff and our services to meet the needs of our community.

"It is really important as a community and as citizens that we pay attention to the public health messages that are publicised widely and are available in detail on the Public Health Agency (PHA) website.

"These are that we wash our hands regularly, that we avoid touching our face as much as possible, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, that when we cough, we cough into our elbow, cough into a tissue and catch it, bin it, kill it.

"And finally that we try to avoid close contact with people so we stand at least a metre away from people we are talking to or working with. These are really important messages for keeping all of us safe."

She said people should continue to check the Western Trust and PHA websites for updates.