THERE was panic among shoppers in Cowley yesterday evening as paramedics dressed in protective suits and facemasks were spotted outside a supermarket.

Bystanders took to social media to warn of a potential coronavirus-related incident near Sainsbury's at the John Allen Centre, off Between Towns Road.

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The John Radcliffe Hospital, South Central Ambulance Service and Oxford University Hospitals failed to confirm or deny the reports when contacted by the Oxford Mail.

The John Radcliffe Hospital referred us to to Public Health England who refused to address people's concerns.

A spokesperson for PHE said: "We are not providing a rolling commentary on cases or tests, these numbers are published daily by Department of Health and Social Care at around 2pm."

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Shopper John Clayton, who reported the incident, said he approached medical staff to inquire if the incident was connected with the deadly virus, however, they refused to answer.

Halfords employee Connor McDermott who was working at the store yesterday as medics turned up at about 4.30pm, said he overheard customers who said that a person had died in the incident.

This has not been confirmed.

Thames Valley Police said no criminal incidents had been reported to them.

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