SAINSBURY'S and Poundland have denied a medical incident in Cowley feared to be related to coronavirus were to do with their stores.

Concerns about the virus were first raised on Saturday by shoppers and staff at Templars Shopping Park, also known as the John Allen Centre.

This was due to an ambulance arriving at the site and people seen wearing face masks and dressed in white protective clothing.

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There have since been reports that someone collapsed and workers at the site reported seeing a 'trolley with a white sheet on' being loaded into the ambulance.

Nothing has been confirmed by South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), however, about why paramedics were called out.

Oxford Mail:

John Clayton, who took pictures of the incident which happened at around 4.30pm, said he approached medical staff parked outside Sainsbury's, to inquire if it was connected with the virus but said they refused to answer.

Both Sainsbury's and Poundland, located next to the supermarket, have today denied the incident was to do with their Cowley stores.

Halfords, which is based on the other side of Sainsbury's, has not yet responded to a request for comment.

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An employee at a store at the retail park, who did not want to be named or the shop she works at identified, believed a person had died as she and other staff members saw a 'trolley with a white sheet on' wheeled into an ambulance.

She said: "Obviously it was disturbing for everybody but we had to act professionally and reassure customers.

"We locked our doors and had people pay for their items then leave.

"We were shut for at least half an hour out of respect for the person who had died and their loved ones until the ambulance had left."

She added: "I think everybody is thinking about [coronavirus] at the moment.

Oxford Mail:

"Unfortunately that is what is happening in the world now but there are many incidents where they need to wear protective outfits."

As of today, a total of 4,501 people in the UK have been tested, of which 4,492 were confirmed negative and nine positive.

City councillor David Henwood said he understood someone had collapsed at the retail park and emergency services were called and came in protective clothing due to the person showing 'flu-like symptoms similar to those of the coronavirus'.

He added: "I am told the patient tested negative for the virus, but was clearly stressed when emergency staff approached in white chemical suits."

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OUH referred the paper to Public Health England (PHE), with a spokesperson stating: "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."

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