This passenger was taking no chances (Picture: Macquarie)

Commuters are going to extreme lengths to protect themselves from the coronavirus, including wearing full-on gas masks.

A man on the London Underground was spotted wearing the face attachment on the way to work.

The passenger, who was dressed in a suit and rain jacket, was also photographed casually reading a newspaper during his commute.

A twitter user who posted a picture of the man wrote: ‘Bloke on the tube going a bit far.’


A woman was seen on a tube wearing a face mask (Picture: Getty)

The face mask was unnecessary because authorities have repeatedly said they are not needed.

World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus response envoy Dr David Nabarro told LBC earlier this week: ‘People misunderstand the face mask (surgical mask).



‘They think it is about protecting themselves, but it’s actually about protecting others if you are producing a lot of respiratory droplets.’

He added: ‘People tend to touch them a lot, and if you touch your face mask when it’s wet, then whatever respiratory bugs you’ve coughed out will go on to your hands and then you’ll put it on other surfaces.

‘So generally no, it’s not necessary to wear a face mask.’

Masks have become very popular (Picture: Reuters)

Fear of the spreading coronavirus 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.

Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy.

Online retailer Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don’t gouge panicked buyers.

The global count of those diagnosed with coronavirus has now exceeded 82,000, with China, where the virus originated, still by far the hardest-hit country.

Around 78,497 cases have been reported there, including 2,744 deaths.

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Recent days have seen sharp spikes in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Italy has become the worst affected country in Europe with at least 650 cases and 15 deaths.

South Korea reported 256 additional cases Friday, raising its total to 2,022, with most occurring in the region around the city of Daegu.

In the UK, 7,690 people have been tested for the virus and of the 16 to have tested positive, eight have so far been discharged from hospital.

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