Buxton residents and businesses say they will 'carry on' as coronavirus crisis sets in

There are 12 cases of the killer bug in Derbyshire - with at least one confirmed among the parent population of Burbage Primary School in the last couple of weeks.

Though Government advice shifts daily scientists at Imperial College London have now warned 250,000 people could die and the NHS completely could be overwhelmed if it does not change course and take more drastic measures to prevent a catastrophic infection rate.

This means pubs, clubs and theatres are likely to be closed while most will work from home if possible and whole households will be isolated if any one person becomes sick.

Many in Buxton have spoken of ‘mad’ cases of stockpiling - with shelves of milk and toilet roll ‘disappearing’ as fear grips the community.

However others are trying their best to carry on and are finding ways to help others - especially the elderly and vulnerable.

Mum-of-three Esther Curwen told the Advertiser on Tuesday how she had been trying to buy nappies for her 18-month-year-old son for two days.

She said: “I managed to get some at 8.15am - there were just two packets left on the shelf and Aldi had only been open 15 minutes.

“And this is when people are being advised to avoid crowded places.”

Esther, who has two children in school, said she was lucky that she could rely on her mother who is 60 and quite fit and healthy to look after them when schools are locked down.

However she added: “I agree we need to avoid contact where possible but closing everything down is too extreme.

“There doesn’t seem to be a right answer.”

Jade Bloom, 24, said the virus has become ‘dramatised’ and not enough information was being released about ‘specific cases’ to allow the public to make judgements about the risk.

She said: “Everyone is talking about staying indoors but I think it’s too early.

“I won’t let it stop me going places as long as I stay away from those at risk - I’m optimistic that it will be ok.”

Meanwhile business owners told how there were ‘scary times ahead’ – including Buxton Opera House which is closing with ‘immediate effect’ – but others were focusing on working as safely as possible while they remained open.

Anthony Fitzgerald, of Fitzgerald Craft Bakery, said: “We would normally be getting ready for the busy summer period now but if we can carry on producing food to help we’re happy to do that and carry on as long as we can.

“We can sell the ingredients here for people to bake their own bread - because the supermarkets are not going to be able to cope.

“I’m optimistic - I still believe in the old British war mentality.”

Anthony said the bakery could survive for six months with no trade but he feared for many others in the town when they are closed as measures to manage the virus tighten.

He said: “We don’t know where this is going to go - everything’s changed.

“I’m not very worried because I think it’s just one of those things that’s going to happen.

“It would be awful to lose 250,000 people but maybe it’s just one of those things that’s going to happen.

“A lot of my customers are elderly so I know what this must be like for an elderly person - what they’re planning to do for the elderly I do not know.

“Not everyone in their 70s has someone to look after them.”

Kelly Coles-Evans, director of Hargreaves and Son homeware, said though the future was uncertain he added: “We’re 156 years old and have survived everything up to this point and we’ll do everything to survive going forward.”

Buxton Opera House has confirmed it is closing - including the Pavilion Arts Centre and Buxton Cinema.

A spokesman said: “As a charity without major public funding this is likely to be a very difficult time but our priority has to be the health and wellbeing of our customers, staff and volunteers.”

The theatre is refunding tickets but is asking customers to donate the cost of their ticket to help ensure the centre is able to reopen again in the coming months.

High Peak MP Robert Largan described the coronavirus crisis as an ‘unprecedented situation’ but it was ‘key’ to follow Government advice.

He said: “The advice is based on scientific evidence from the best minds in the country.”

However Mr Largan warned residents to beware inaccurate information from some media sources.

He said: “There’s an awful lot of stuff being put out which is inaccurate and irresponsible - people should think twice before sharing things on Facebook.

“There will be a huge economic impact as a result of coronavirus and there will be support for businesses based on the fact that people have been advised to socially-distance.

“For people working in hospitality in the High Peak that support will be essential.”

The MP said he and colleagues were working to take up constituents’ cases and they were doing ‘everything we can to support them’.

Speaking about the growth of groups offering help with shopping and other tasks for elderly people who were isolating in the borough Mr Largan said ‘it’s fantastic’.

He added: “It shows how much the community want to help and speaks volumes about the High Peak.”

However he warned residents to ensure they adhered to social distance guidelines and stayed vigilant for criminal groups seeking to exploit the vulnerable by setting up scam groups.