THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire has almost doubled in a day from nine to 17 – but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out closing all schools for the time being.
The decision came as a retail expert claimed the virus will cost the county's economy hundreds of millions.
The tourist trade is worth more than £2bn a year to the county with Oxford getting some £900m.
Keith Slater, a director of the Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network, said the local economy will lose hundreds of millions of pounds as a result of a reduction in visitor numbers from China, the Far East and Europe as flights are restricted.
Read again: Five Oxford University students test positive for coronavirus
Blenheim Palace has already reported a financial loss as Chinese visitors stay away, and staff at designer outlet Bicester Village, a favourite among tourists from the Far East, have been spotted wearing face masks.
Flights to and from Italy have been cancelled until April 4 and five Oxford University students have now tested positive for coronavirus – in the county there are nine confirmed cases.
Last month Blenheim Palace's chief executive officer Dominic Hare revealed that the coronavirus crisis was already having an effect, with 5,000 fewer Chinese visitors for February, costing it at least £142,500.
Mr Slater said: "It's only an estimate but I think it's fair to say that the virus will be costing Oxfordshire's tourist trade hundreds of millions of pounds by the end of the year.
Read again: Coronavirus is worst public health crisis for a generation
"I think we have to assume that this will be affecting our lives for the whole of 2020 – those trips that have been cancelled for Easter will probably not be re-booked for the summer.
"The summer financially has been taken out and you will be able to walk down Cornmarket without bumping into hordes of teenagers from language schools.
"Bookings in hotels and restaurants are down and cash flow could become a major problem for some businesses which may need to call on help from the banks, and government schemes announced in the budget.
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"What is happening with coronavirus is incredibly disruptive for the local economy and I think it will be the autumn at the earliest or this time next year before we start to see any shoots of recovery."
Kaushik Subramanian, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Paradise Street, Oxford, said the cancellation of the Skoll World Forum for investors, due to be held in Oxford from March 31 to April 3, had led to cancelled bookings in hotels.
He added: "About 1,200 delegates come from worldwide to the Said Business School, so that is having an effect.
"You have to try to look at the positive side – if there are restrictions on European travel then domestic travel could pick up – we will be watching this very closely over the next few weeks."
The forum's website said: "We have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Skoll World Forum in Oxford due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, in his first UK Budget on Wednesday, announced a £12bn emergency 'fiscal stimulus' to counter the shock of the coronavirus outbreak.
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Tourism organisation Experience Oxfordshire said it was working hard with local businesses and national agencies to continue to monitor and communicate updates on Covid-19.
It is asking hotels and other organisations to reveal what effect the coronavirus has been having – the number of cancellations received, the value of bookings cancelled, which country the bookings came from, and the overall business impact.
At Bloxham School near Banbury a British family connected with the school have tested positive for the coronavirus, in spite of having little or no symptoms. The school is remaining open.
A statement on the website said: "The family has been in self-isolation since being informed that they unknowingly had contact with an infectious person during half term."
Read again: Bicester Village says no cases of coronavirus at outlet
Pupils and staff in the boarding house and friendship groups with the infected student have begun immediate self-isolation.
They will not return to school until after Saturday, March 21.
Education expert and county councillor John Howson said: "Now is a good time for schools to confront the use of technology in a way they have not done in a long while – there is a lot that can be done on Skype and online."
One of the nine people in the county who has tested positive for coronavirus is an SGN employee who works at its Yarnton hub.
The man tested positive for the disease on Tuesday evening and is now self-isolating at his home.
President Donald Trump has suspended all flights to US from Europe except UK and Ireland for next 30 days due to coronavirus.
The number of people in the UK who have been diagnosed with coronavirus is 596 and it is now estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 people have the virus.
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