Coronavirus: Tesco, Asda and Waitrose are rationing these items as shoppers panic buy

SUPERMARKETS are rationing a number of items as shoppers panic buy across the country.
An empty shelf that storages antibacterial hand gel in a Tesco store. Picture: Nial Carson/PA WireAn empty shelf that storages antibacterial hand gel in a Tesco store. Picture: Nial Carson/PA Wire
An empty shelf that storages antibacterial hand gel in a Tesco store. Picture: Nial Carson/PA Wire

Restrictions are being placed on the likes of pasta, anti-bacterial wipes and hand soap in a bid to prevent people from stockpiling.

Shelves across the country have been emptied of goods, including toilet paper, after Public Health England urged members of the public to ‘plan ahead’ for if they had to self-isolate for a couple of weeks.

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However, the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there is ‘absolutely no reason’ for the British public to panic buy.

Tesco has almost entirely sold out of dried pasta online and has now introduced a five limit number on several items, including anti-bacterial wipes, gels, and long-life milk.

No other supermarket has resorted to rationing food, however the majority are now limiting anti-bacterial gels to two per customer - or have sold out entirely.

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The full list of restrictions at each supermarket is as follows:

Tesco

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Five-item limit on a number of items including pasta, anti-bacterial wipes, gels and sprays, and long-life milk. Started online on Sunday morning and in stores on Saturday afternoon.

Waitrose

Only online at the moment, and only includes restrictions on certain anti-bacterial soaps and wipes.

Asda

Hand sanitiser restricted to two per person both in-store and online. No food restrictions. Many anti-bacterial products out of stock online.

As of 9am on Sunday, 273 people had been diagnosed with Covid-19 - an increase of 67 from the 206 cases confirmed at on Saturday. It represents the largest day-on-day increase in diagnoses.

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Cases in Hampshire quadrupled from two to eight in just 24 hours.

Coronavirus concerns appear to have created an international rush for toilet paper.

Two women have been charged after a fight broke out over toilet roll in an Australian supermarket, with a video of the altercation shared widely online.

Hand sanitiser products were also found to be selling for more than 5,000 per cent their recommended retail price online, with bottles worth 49p selling for £24.99

One eBay listing has seen a second-hand bottle of liquid soap sell for more than £5 - despite being only three-quarters full.

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