CORONAVIRUS “scaremongering” has sparked appeals for calm after a councillor revealed he’d been approached by panicked Teessiders worried about students wearing masks.

Health bosses were grilled at Tuesday’s adult health select committee in Stockton – with updates on preparations for the expected spread of the illness.

But there were concerns a lack of information for the public was leading to “scaremongering” and confusion.

Cllr Luke Frost told the committee worried residents had been contacting him asking for advice.

The Thornaby independent added: “In Mandale and Victoria we have international college and there are a fair number of Chinese students.

“Something they do is wear face masks while out in public – and I don’t think the public are getting the message that they do this anyway all over the globe.

“When you see it in the community people start to panic a lot more – asking ‘why they’re wearing face masks?’

“I’m spending almost every day now telling people it’s fine. Yes, you can use Thornaby railway station, just because it’s next to the college, it doesn’t mean you’re going to contract the virus.

“I don’t think there is enough information going out there to the public. Leave the scaremongering alone and put out real information.”

The first case in the Tees Valley was also confirmed in Darlington on Tuesday.

Keith Wheldon, from the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, read a short statement to the committee on processes and protocols being followed at the moment.

He said: “The trust is implementing existing plans for preparedness regarding outbreaks of infectious disease and working within the guidance provided by Public Health England to ensure staff are informed and prepared for a local increase in potential confirmed cases.

“Internal incident management arrangements have been implemented and are available seven-days-a-week. We’re working with partners in other organisations to provide a standard approach and mutual support where needed.

“Our plans are constantly under review in light of the rapidly changing information and national guidance.”

Panellists were told the situation remained “fluid” but North Tees hospital was prepared with a coronavirus “assessment pod” in place.

Portable cabins near the Urgent Care Centre will be used to assess suspected cases of coronavirus.

But they are not “drop in” centres for anyone who may suspect they are showing signs of the illness.

Ringing 111 is the first port of call – and health leaders urged the public not to attend GP surgeries or A&E but to ring 111.

Meanwhile, Cllr Kevin Faulks told the committee he felt people were scaremongering.

He added: “When you look at everything which has gone in the past in the past 10 years – politicians, chiefs of public health or whoever have come on and told us there will be at least 20,000 people who will die.

“I can’t remember if it was SARS or something like that – but it was nowhere near that.

“So even they can’t get it right.”

Cllr Clare Gamble said there was also an online questionnaire which people could fill in on coronavirus.

But she asked what was being done about cases where the virus was being spread by people with no apparent link to known cases.

Cllr Gamble added: “At what point do the public need to take that into account?

“My son has a cold at the moment and I’m 99.99 per cent certain he hasn’t got coronavirus – but at some point somebody will, and they won’t have had that external travel.”

Mr Wheldon said it was simply an “unknown unknown”.

He added: “Unfortunately, there will be cases where you’ve met someone who has no symptoms but you don’t know (they have it) because of the incubation period.

“That’s why at this moment in time, we can only follow the protocols in place – and 111 has protocols to get patients tested.

“At the moment, it’s business as usual until we’re informed otherwise.”

The committee was told the trust had measures in place to cope if there was a “surge in demand” – with a top team holding daily meetings on preparations.