Chinese takeaway begs customers not to stay away over coronavirus fears with sign reading ‘not been to China in over 20 years’ as UK cases hit 209
- Pearl River in Reading, Berkshire, displayed sign due to a slump in business
- Comes after schools in the county closed due to teacher having Covid-19
- The diagnosed teacher worked at Willow Bank Infant School in Woodley
- Prompted others to close down to carry out precautionary deep cleans
An Asian takeaway restaurant has put up a sign begging customers not to stay away amid coronavirus fears.
The Pearl River in Reading now displays a notice reading ‘not been to China in over 20 years’.
It comes after a 75-year-old woman was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital on Wednesday with Covid-19 symptoms.
Pictured: The sign that Pearl River is displaying as Covid-19 fears grip the community in Reading, Berkshire
A 10-minute drive from the hospital, the business is one of many Chinese takeaways reporting a sharp drop in takings since the virus broke out in Wuhan.
The Pearl River’s sign reads: ‘Important Notice. The staff and owners of Peal River have not been to China for over 20 years’. It adds: ‘All ingredients are sourced within the UK from an EU source.’
A loyal customer of Pearl River posted a picture of the poster on social media asking people to ‘please continue to support a local Chinese takeaway’.
The post continued: ‘When I picked up our order tonight, Pearl River in Emmer Green has posted this at their premises, due to a drop off in business, thanks to unnecessary prejudice around coronavirus.’
Pearl River (pictured) in Reading, Berkshire, has suffered a slump in business due to the coronavirus fears
A teacher at Willow Bank Infant School four miles away in Woodley has tested positive for coronavirus.
Willow Bank Infant School and Willow Bank Junior School have since been closed to allow for a deep clean.
The confirmed case of coronavirus has prompted other schools to close in the area including Aldryngton Primary School in Earley, Reading, and Great Hollands Primary School in Bracknell which have closed for a ‘precautionary’ deep clean.
China town in Soho, central London, (pictured) has also suffered in recent weeks but customers have started to return to the food hub