A special Covid-19 hotline has taken more than 100 calls since it opened yesterday.

The news came as Kim Wilson, the health minister, toured the call centre and met its seven phone operators today.

Ms Wilson said: “I was grateful to be able to meet the telephone operators today, watch them at work, and thank them for their efforts in fielding calls from members of the public.

“I was interested to hear about the nature of some of the calls - which range from health concerns, to travel advice, to questions about safe work environments.

“The service that these telephone operators provide goes beyond providing practical advice - they also offer a voice of comfort and reassurance for those who may feel particularly stressed by the current situation.”

The hotline is open from 9am until 9pm every day on 444-2498.