Coronavirus: More than 1,000 people sent home after Aegon's Edinburgh office shut down after positive COVID-19 test

Aegon's office at South Gyle, which has been shut due to COVID-19 | JPIMedia

More than 1,000 employees at the headquarters of insurance giants Aegon have been sent home after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The office, based in South Gyle, will be deep cleaned as a “precautionary measure” with staff told to work from home until further notice.

Staff that came in close contact with the person who has tested positive have been told to self-isolate for 14 days.

It is the fourth confirmed case in Edinburgh, following two doctors being diagnosed and a member of staff at Lloyds Banking Group.

There are 11 confirmed cases in the Lothians, with 60 in Scotland, but those numbers are likely to rise after the next update at 2pm.

An Aegon spokesman told the Evening News: ”As a precaution we have closed our Edinburgh Park office following an employee contracting COVID-19. Our first priority is to the health and well-being of our employees.

“In line with Government advice the member of staff and those that have come into close contact with them have been told to self-quarantine for 14 days and seek medical guidance from the local health authorities.

We are currently liaising with the relevant authorities but as a precautionary measure we have closed the office for a deep clean and have told employees to work from home until further notice.

“We have implemented plans that enable us to service customers in the event of an office closure.”