Britain’s Chinese community wear facemasks as they celebrate New Year amid coronavirus scare

London’s Chinese community wore surgical masks today as they prepared to celebrate the Lunar New Year amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to British shores.  

Lucky lanterns were hung from windows as drivers dropped off deliveries to restaurants preparing for tomorrow’s big day.  

Tomorrow, the Chinese lunar calendar month will change from the Year of the Pig to the first day of the Year of the Rat. 

Preparations came as the UK government held a Cobra meeting over fears the deadly coronavirus, which has already claimed the lives of at least 26 people, could spread to the UK. 

Meanwhile, China has prevented New Year celebrations in a number of its cities in the wake of the virus outbreak 

Chinese lanterns are prepared in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Chinese lanterns are prepared in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Pedestrians wear surgical masks in London's China Town today. London's Chinese community wore surgical masks today as they prepared to celebrate the Lunar New Year amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to British shores

Pedestrians wear surgical masks in London’s China Town today. London’s Chinese community wore surgical masks today as they prepared to celebrate the Lunar New Year amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to British shores

A picture shows hanging lanterns above a street in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

A picture shows hanging lanterns above a street in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Pictured: Members of the public in China Town today. As a precaution, members of the public have been seen walking through London's Chinese district with surgical masks covering their faces

Pictured: Members of the public in China Town today. As a precaution, members of the public have been seen walking through London’s Chinese district with surgical masks covering their faces

As a precaution, members of the public have been seen walking through London’s Chinese district with surgical masks covering their faces. 

Face masks are believed by some to limit the transmission of airborne viruses. They were first worn by Japanese people in the early 20th century after the break out of the Spanish flu pandemic killed between 20 and 40 million people worldwide. 

To celebrate the New Year, Boris Johnson hosted colourful Chinese dragons in Downing Street earlier today while ministers were nearby discussing the deadly in the Far East.     

People walk through Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

People walk through Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Chinese lanterns are carried through the street in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Chinese lanterns are carried through the street in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

A man hangs Chinese lanterns in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

A man hangs Chinese lanterns in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

A woman dons a surgical mask as she walks along a street in London's China Town earlier today

A woman dons a surgical mask as she walks along a street in London’s China Town earlier today 

Women wear face masks in China Town today amid fears that the deadly coronavirus could spread to UK shores

Women wear face masks in China Town today amid fears that the deadly coronavirus could spread to UK shores 

Pictured: China Town, London is full of people wearing face masks to protect themselves from viruses, such as coronavirus, as decorations go up to celebrate Chinese New Year on 25th January

Pictured: China Town, London is full of people wearing face masks to protect themselves from viruses, such as coronavirus, as decorations go up to celebrate Chinese New Year on 25th January

The festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak

The festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak

He hosted figures from the British-Chinese community in the heart of Westminster ahead of the lunar new year on Saturday.

But the festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak.

Guests also included the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Lui Xiaoming.

A woman studies a menu in London's China Town today amid fears of the spread of the deadly coronavirus

A woman studies a menu in London’s China Town today amid fears of the spread of the deadly coronavirus 

Pictured: Women walk through China Town today as decorations are hung for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Some believe that surgical masks, like those worn, prevent the spread of infectious airborne diseases

Pictured: Women walk through China Town today as decorations are hung for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Some believe that surgical masks, like those worn, prevent the spread of infectious airborne diseases 

Pedestrians walk through China Town with surgical masks covering their faces today

Pedestrians walk through China Town with surgical masks covering their faces today 

Young students from the Woking Chinese School enjoy a visit to 10 Downing Street, London, in celebration of Chinese New Year

Young students from the Woking Chinese School enjoy a visit to 10 Downing Street, London, in celebration of Chinese New Year

Chinese lanterns are hung in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Chinese lanterns are hung in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

The meeting in Whitehall was chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, after 14 people in the UK were tested for the virus, before later being given the all-clear. 

Cases have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam. 

The Lunar New Year has been cancelled in cities across the country today as authorities and businesses scrambled to shut tourist attractions and public transport in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly new coronavirus that has killed at least 26 people.

People browse a store in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England

People browse a store in Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England

People walk through Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

People walk through Chinatown on January 24, 2020 in London, England. The neighborhood will be the main hub of Chinese New Year celebrations in London as we enter the Year of the Rat tomorrow

Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam

Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam

Part of the Great Wall of China in Beijing and Disneyland in Shanghai have been closed as authorities desperately try to stop people spreading the Wuhan coronavirus amid fears as many as 10,000 are already infected with the killer virus.

Fourteen cities, home to around 40million people, are reported to have gone into some form of lockdown in the past two days, with public transport halted and roads closed during the traditional holiday period. 

The 2020 Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will start from tomorrow and ring in the year of the rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calender. 

Women wear masks in London's China Town today. 14 people have been tested in the UK for the virus but were given the all clear

Women wear masks in London’s China Town today. 14 people have been tested in the UK for the virus but were given the all clear 

Cases have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam

Cases have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam

The 2020 Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will start from tomorrow and ring in the year of the rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar

The 2020 Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will start from tomorrow and ring in the year of the rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar

But as the country’s citizens are poised to celebrate their most important holiday of the year, temples have locked their doors, major tourist destinations have announced emergency closures and restaurant reservations are being cancelled. 

Shanghai Disney Resort posted on its website: ‘In response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and cast, Shanghai Disney Resort is temporarily closing Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown.

‘We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and… announce the reopening date upon confirmation.’ 

Men deliver food to Chinese shops along a street in China Town today. The festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak

Men deliver food to Chinese shops along a street in China Town today. The festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

A section of the Great Wall known as the Badaling section – one of the most visited parts – has been closed to tourists, Al Jazeera reports.

The following measures have been taken to control the disease’s spread in and around China: 

  • Beijing’s Forbidden Palace, which hosts the Palace Museum, will be closed to visitors from tomorrow, Saturday
  • The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, has been closed
  • A four-day carnival planned in Hong Kong, from January 25 to 28, has been cancelled by the state tourism board
  • Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year World Cup football tournament has been called off
  • All public Lunar New Year events in Macau, home to more than half-a-million people, have been cancelled 
A man hangs a cooked duck in the window of his restaurant in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, as preparations are made for Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

A man hangs a cooked duck in the window of his restaurant in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, as preparations are made for Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

A picture shows a Chinese New Year decoration in the window of a restaurant in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

A picture shows a Chinese New Year decoration in the window of a restaurant in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

Deliveries are made to restaurants in China Town in London on January 24, 2020, ahead of Chinese New Year which starts on January 25 and will usher in the Year of the Rat

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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