News

Man spotted wearing gas mask at train station as coronavirus fears grow

A man has been spotted wearing a gas mask at a busy train station as fears over the dangers of coronavirus grow.

The commuter was snapped standing waiting for a service at Milton Keynes Central at around 8am this morning.

Bemused onlookers can be seen staring at the man, who appears to be dressed in a suit and wearing gloves.

Matt Brown, 51, took a picture of the bizarre scene while on his way to work.

He said: “He was just among the crowd waiting to get on a train. It was almost surreal. I did a double take.

“I was incredulous, really. That’s the expression you can see on other people’s faces.

“He looked like he was going to storm the station!

“I don’t know what sort of reaction he got [on the train]. We got on different carriages.”

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK currently stands at 36.

The outbreak of the virus has led to a global run on sales of face masks – despite evidence most people who aren’t sick don’t need to wear them.

A number of businesses are sold out while others are limiting how many a customer can buy.

Related: Meet the asset firms buying our NHS

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Published by