THE chairman of the Darlington Primary Care Network has warned the public not to panic after the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in County Durham.

Professor Ahmet Fuat, who has been a GP in Darlington for 33 years, said while it was not unexpected that a case would be confirmed in the town, he said the most important thing was to be careful with hygiene, and for the public not to panic.

He said: "Handwashing is a priority. People should be washing their hands at every opportunity and people need to wash their hands very well every time. Soap and water works just as well as the alcohol based products.

"If you are sneezing and coughing make sure you do so into a tissue and discard that tissue in a bag and then in the bin."

He said there may come a time when vulnerable members of the community who have other health conditions may be advised to stay away from public gatherings.

He also advised people to telephone 111 if they were feeling unwell and were displaying any symptoms they were unsure about.

"People should not visit their GP or A&E, but call 111 to find out what they should do," he added.