A SEASONAL business has shut up shop for the foreseeable future over Coronavirus fears.

Pensarn Tackle and Bait owner Ian Flannery has decided to sacrifice Easter trade in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the community.

Mr Flannery has become ‘hyper vigilant’ to the spread of the virus following his own research into the current Italy-wide lockdown, and after he and girlfriend Tami Lyn Clunn suffered a particularly “bad bout of season flu” last Christmas.

Ian Flannery explains his decision to close his shop to the public. Video: Kerry Roberts

The Marine Road business - which the father-of-five, has owned for five years and usually reopens every March after a two month break - will now serve as base of operations for sourcing tackle and selling products online only.

“I was getting ready to ramp up for a March opening until 14 days ago, when I saw how quickly it escalated in Italy,” said the 50-year-old from Rhyl.

“I did think that as a result, maybe more people would stay at home and it could be good for the tourist trade in Wales, and if this was a country like Taiwan, maybe we could wear face masks and be okay - but it’s just not socially acceptable and I have to take other sensible precautions.

“In the past with Ebola or SARS I didn’t feel the need to do this, but we have clusters of Coronavirus in the UK now and I’m worried of what would happen if I passed it to my parents.

“I’m not locking myself in the house like a loonie, but there is a lot care homes around North Wales, with a higher than normal population of elderly people, and we all have a responsibility to be proactive and not reactive.”

Rhyl Journal:

Mr Flannery's shop in Pensarn will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Picture: Kerry Roberts

“But what about your parents or you grandparents?

“Nearly 4,000 people have died already - where’s the empathy?”

“But the people in the UK seem to be laughing it off Williams Estates

As The Journal went to press, the latest figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed six cases of Coronavirus in Wales - out of 319 positive tests in the UK - and national media outlets reported a fourth death nationwide.