Two people who believe an infection of COVID-19 could pose a risk to either themselves or their family say they are prepared to go into lockdown.

As of March 4, there are three officially announced cases of coronavirus in Hertfordshire - Letchworth, Stevenage and Harpenden - and 85 across the UK.

Some believe COVID-19 is not a concern as Health Secretary Matt Hancock estimated the mortality rate to be two per cent or lower. Others with weaker immune systems fear they could be at risk if they were to be infected.

Woman with weaker immune system prepared to go into lockdown

Lesley Goodall-Jones, 52, from North Watford, said she would lock herself indoors if a case of coronavirus was to come nearer to Watford.

She has myasthenia gravis, a disease which causes muscle weakness to the eyes and face and causes problems with walking, talking or swallowing.

She feels her immune system could be compromised if she were to potentially catch COVID-19.

She said: “People are walking in the streets, it is a small number, but you do not know who may have it.

“Has it stopped me from leaving the house – well not yet, but if it gets closer to Watford then maybe.

Follow our live updates as Coronavirus cases are confirmed in Hertfordshire

“I go to a hospital in London every six weeks and have to go on public transport, so that does worry me quite a lot.”

Hertfordshire County Council said yesterday that only the Public Health England and the NHS are in control of information as to where in Hertfordshire confirmed cases are, but said that releasing the information would be “fairly pointless”.

In response, she said: “I don’t care who the person is, I’m just interested in where.

“Hertfordshire is a big place; I need to know if it’s in Stevenage or if it’s closer.

“Once I know it gets closer, I’ll be thinking to stay indoors.

“Of course, I’m worried, I do think everyone is slightly, even if they say they aren’t. But then if you’re young and healthy there’s no need to worry – but I’m neither.

“I think people should be given the information so they can make their own choices depending on their own circumstances or how they feel.”

She added that she has been purchasing dry food products in bulk in preparation for a potential lock-down and said: “Nobody know what will happen, we will just have to wait and see.”

Dad would isolate himself from baby son

Ronnie Daniels, 37, from Garston, fears that if he were to contract COVID-19, he would have to self-isolate from his family including his one-year-old son with down syndrome.

The father who works as a skip lorry driver, says his work involves handling waste and is a hygiene concern.

He fears that while handling the waste, he could contract the virus and it could spread to his son.

Now he has taken all the precautions he feels is necessary.

He said: "I was in a shop last night and a friend who was in hospital recently kept coughing while he was covering his hand.

"I kind of backed off and told him to get away."

Mr Daniels is going through precautions of staying away from those ill and constantly using hand sanitisers, to prevent any possible way of his son or stepdaughter contracting the virus.

He said: "Even when I go to Asda on a Thursday night, I get an anti-bacterial wipe and wipe down the handle of the trolley.

"It might not be a big deal to them (others not concerned of COVID-19) as they might be young or healthy.

"But it's not affecting our lives massively, but it's enough to have us worried.

"It's probably a good thing in how it's changing the way lots of people are thinking about hygiene, doing all of the stuff they should have been doing anyway."

If he were to self-isolate, he intends to do so at his mother’s house to protect his child.

The first Herfordshire case was announced on February 29, with two other cases later confirmed. On March 2, the East and North Hertfordshire Trust NHS released a statement that a clinician at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, had tested positive for coronavirus.

However, the trust has since given an update which says the test is now negative.

We would like to know how you feel about COVID-19 in Hertfordshire.

Let us know by emailing: joseph.reaidi@newsquest.co.uk