Hand sanitiser products in Boots stores across Kent are now limited to two bottles per customer as the coronavirus outbreak escalates.

But actually getting your hands on the germ-killer gel may prove difficult as shop shelves remain barren.

Now, in a bid to ration its stock, Boots is restricting customers from buying more than two bottles each.

Signs have been spotted on empty shelves in the Canterbury Whitefriars branch advising shoppers on the new limit.

Other pharmaceutical chains and supermarkets across the county have run out of hand gel, including Superdrug, Wilkinson's, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

In Canterbury's B&Q, staff have spoken off an immense demand for face masks. A number of customers have also asked if the DIY retailer sells hand sanitiser products.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has today said the virus is "likely to become more significant" but the country will be "very, very well prepared".

Worst case projections show up to a fifth of workers could be off work at the same time, while army medics and retired health professionals could be drafted in and non-urgent surgery delayed.

So far, there is one confirmed case in Kent, with Public Health England revealing a worker at The Maidstone Studios in Vinters Park had tested positive for Covid-19 since returning from Italy.

Kent head teachers have since alerted parents of potential cases linked to different schools, with pupils at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar in Faversham going into self isolation.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include fever and respiratory symptoms including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.

Meanwhile health secretary Matt Hancock has revealed medicines stockpiled as part of no-deal Brexit contingency plans are being used to maintain supplies of painkillers and hand gel.

The revelation that the government was resorting to supplies of medicines that it had stored ahead of Brexit came after a question from the Thanet South MP Craig Mackinlay.

He asked health secretary Matt Hancock what steps were being taken to address possible shortages. Many shops have run out of items like hand gel.

He said: “As cases escalate and we have to assume they will, even a very well prepared NHS will become stretched, self help will become important; we are already seeing a national shortage of sanitising hand gel. Could the health secretary work with the manufacturers of these products, like paracetamol, ibuprofen and cough medicines, to ensure they are maintained and available on the high street?”

In reply, the health secretary said: “Our no-deal planning and our no-deal stockpiles are already playing an important part in making sure we are fully prepared and ready.”

Coronavirus: What we know as virus hits UK

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