This week Richmond had its first confirmed case of coronavirus in the borough – but how are locals reacting to the news?

We visited the town centre to find out.

Janet Whelan is sitting outside Don Fernando’s tapas bar by Richmond station, eating her dinner and smoking a cigarette with her best friend.

She isn’t bothered at all.

“No I’m not worried even in the slightest. I just think that you have got to live your life,” she says.

“They tell us to use the hand wipes and gels – I’ve just put it on actually before eating. But you can’t lock yourself away, we’ve all got lives to live. I’m going to have my dinner out, sit here with a cigarette, and watch the world go by.

“The only thing that annoys me is going into the supermarkets where people have completely emptied the shelves, and they’re coming home with arms of loo rolls. I’m just trying to get my normal four pack as usual. It’s very sad but I’ve noticed it in the last week or so.

“I don’t think we should panic so much. Take precautions of course, but I’m not worried. Life is for living. In years gone by our parents went through so much. This is just another thing.”

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Further down the road Ian Heath is looking at some flowers from the local florist.

“It’s all a bit scaremongering,” he says.

“Even if it happens I feel it won’t be devastating. Look around, no-one seems to be that bothered. But on the news it’s wall to wall coverage of terrifying stories.”

Another woman, who did not wish to be named, admitted she was “a bit worried” about the virus because her sister has asthma and her 80-year-old father has diabetes.

“I have to say, when I get on the train I always wait hoping someone else will touch the button so I don’t have to. It’s silly things like that,” she says.

“When I come home from work the first thing I do when I get in the door is wash my hands.”

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

As of March 11, 2020, there has been one confirmed case of coronavirus in Richmond according to the government’s website.

In a statement released yesterday (March 10) council leader Gareth Roberts assured residents that the council would keep them informed of the situation, and said they do not intend to close schools yet.

Today (March 11), the World Health Organisation labelled the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.