London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Chinatown to ghost town: How coronavirus has struck fear at the heart of London

Bold red paper lanterns adorn the sky of London’s famous Chinatown during what should be a time of celebration and unity.

But the atmosphere on the streets below presents a stark contrast, as Chinese New Year has been overshadowed by the threat of coronavirus.

As the UK confirms its first two cases and the World Health Organisation declares it a global emergency, the usually thriving Soho hub has taken a major business hit, with many feeling racially targeted.

Restaurants and shops said they’ve seen up to a 50 per cent business drop over the last two weeks, when footfall should have been at its annual peak.

Some western tourists were seen burying their faces into chunky scarves pulled up to their eyes, while many Chinese locals and holidaymakers wore medical masks.

Others went about their day as normal, taking leaflets from campaigners or enjoying the area’s famous food inside warmly lit restaurants.

A dessert shop worker in the area, called Zak, is concerned fears over the virus – which has killed more than 200 people in China – has incited racial abuse against the UK’s Chinese community.

He said two of his friends had been attacked on Wednesday while shopping in a supermarket, in Battersea, south-west London.

Zak told Metro.co.uk: ‘Out of nowhere this old lady started screaming at one of the girls because she was wearing a face mask.

‘She was saying: “Why are you here? Go back to your country, we don’t want your virus here.” Then she pushed her from behind onto the floor.

‘I feel like things like this are happening more and more due to a lack of knowledge about the coronavirus and how to protect yourself.’

Chinese medicine and alternative therapy shop counters were littered with face masks selling for £4 each, but the sight of them has induced fear in some who believe they mark a person as ‘infected’, locals said.

A restaurant manager explained how some Chinese business are refusing entry to people wearing them.

Tourist Amy, from Hunan, who started wearing one yesterday, pointed out it’s not uncommon for people from east Asia to wear masks due to pollution but admits they can scare westerners.

However, one shop worker, who did not want to be named, said the masks weren’t enough and has even started sleeping in a different room to her husband.

She wouldn’t allow the Metro.co.uk journalist, or anyone else, within a metre of her over fears of catching the virus and spreading it.

‘I feel like going to Chinatown is like going to war,’ she said. ‘It feels risky.

‘Working here you have no idea if you are going to catch it. So, I feel personally responsible for people I meet.

‘We still don’t know how to protect ourselves and often people will carry it without knowing. I feel like I can’t rest.’

Further up the road, at Dumpling’s Legend restaurant, the bar is filled with antibacterial hand gel bottles.

Manager Derek, said in the last two weeks walk-ins have dropped by 50 per cent with many cancelling bookings.

He said the impact of the virus on Chinatown and the community has already been difficult and will only get worse.

‘When a lot of westerners heard about the virus, they didn’t feel comfortable to step into Chinatown,’ he said.

‘What we need to do right now, is be more careful and step up deep cleaning in the restaurant and my staff’s personal hygiene with more handwashing and scrubbing door handles.

‘If anyone gets a cough or a cold they cannot to come to work, I need a GP report to tell me they are safe to come back. Otherwise I’m not allowing them.

‘We have to get ready for this, before this thing explodes. Otherwise we’re going to be too late.’

Restaurant manager, Derrick, at Orient London agreed businesses are doing all they can but admitted the footfall is down as punters know safety ‘can’t be guaranteed’.

‘If you compare Chinese New Year last year, this one is so quiet,’ said Derrick.

‘We’ve seen about a 40 per cent drop in both British and Chinese customers. People are definitely worried here.

‘The high priority is to protect yourself, if you’re feeling unwell you shouldn’t be working for at least a week. All our staff know that.

‘One person can be spread to two, then to four, and it could end up the whole of Chinatown then the UK.

‘Right now we need to do whatever we can to stop it at the first stage.’

Yao, who works at Chinese Medicine on Wardour Street, felt her country had been unfairly blamed for the outbreak and the shop has suffered as a result.

She blamed the media and pointed out Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which has faced considerable backlash for publishing a satirical cartoon of the Chinese flag, with the five gold stars replaced by coronavirus bacteria.

‘That’s our flag. It’s offensive, racist and disrespectful,’ she said.

‘I feel people aren’t being supportive of us or mentioning anything positive China has done during the outbreak.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×