A CHINESE chip shop in Westhoughton has closed amid fears of the coronavirus. 

A sign has appeared on the door of A1 Fish and Chips in Church Street to announce the unexpected closure.

It reads: “Because Covid-19 (coronavirus) we will be self-isolation 14 days to make sure everyone safe.

“We reopen on 21/02/2020. Thank you for your concern!”

The takeaway’s manager, Yint Zheng, says nobody is sick.

She said: “We were on holiday in China until February 8. 

“We were in Fijian not Wuhan. Nobody in the family is ill we’re just doing this just in case.

“We saw it on the news that the virus is really bad so we’re just being safe by quarantining ourselves for two weeks.”

Nine cases of the latest coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, with more than 2,500 people tested for the virus across the country

Public Health England publishes confirmed cases on a daily basis, and no cases in Bolton have been reported. 

Travellers who have returned to the UK from China in the last two weeks and show symptoms of a cough, fever, or shortness of breath should immediately stay indoors and avoid contact with other people.

They should also call NHS 111 to inform them of recent travel.

This also applies to anyone who has travelled from Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, or Macau. 

UK chief medical officers raised the risk to the public from low to moderate, but they say the risk to individuals remains low.

It is thought that the strain of coronavirus spreads from person to person through cough droplets, and officials have advised people to carry tissues to catch coughs and sneezes.

Tissues should be binned immediately and people should not use their hands to cover their mouth and nose, and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water or use sanitiser gel.

People should not touch their eyes, mouth or nose if their hands are not clean and they should avoid close contact with people showing signs of fever.

Health officials have raised doubts over the effectiveness of using the masks to protect against the virus.

Dr Jake Dunning, head of emerging infections and zoonoses, Public Health England, said there is “very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use” outside of clinical settings.