Coronavirus panic has left supermarket shelves empty across the UK as families panic buy - with toilet rolls even running out in some shops.
Thousands have been packing their cupboards with dry goods and cleaning products and as the number of confirmed cases reaches 163 in the UK.
Supermarkets also signalled a surge in online deliveries, with increasing numbers of those displaying symptoms of infection opting to self-isolate, while some companies have also advised staff to work from home.
Shops including Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Lidl and Asda have all had a selection of their toilet roll cleared from the aisles.
Hand sanitiser is also running low in many supermarkets and pharmacists.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock previously reassured the public there "won't be a problem" with food supplies.
It came as an older patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Responding to a question about panic-buying from a Question Time audience member, Mr Hancock said there was "absolutely no need" for people to buy in excess.
"The government has supplies of the key things that are needed. And within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won't be a problem there," he said.
"Crucially, we are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need."
But the BBC says it has been told by a supermarket executive that sales of cupboard basics had "gone through the roof".
He said sales of cupboard basics such as pasta and tinned goods had "gone through the roof" and teams were working "round the clock" to keep shelves stocked, using processes and staffing levels set up in case of a no-deal Brexit .
A spokesman for PZ Cussons, which manufactures hygiene product Carex, told the PA news agency: "We have significantly increased the production of Carex hand gel and hand wash products, with our manufacturing facilities working at full capacity in response to the exceptional demand being experienced."
A Waitrose spokesman said: "We are seeing more demand for some products such as cleaning products and hand sanitisers.
"We are working closely with our suppliers to ensure that we have stock available."
The UK now has 163 coronavirus cases after 47 more people were diagnosed in the last 24 hours in the biggest day-on-day increase so far.
A man in his 80s, who had underlying health conditions, is feared to have become the second person to die in the UK.
He was being treated at Milton Keynes Hospital in Buckinghamshire and samples taken from him are being tested for Covid-19.
It comes a day after a woman in her 70s, who also had pre-existing medical conditions, became the first to die after catching the flu-like virus, which has now infected more than 100,000 people around the world.
Scotland reported five more cases and two British Airways baggage handlers, who work at Heathrow Airport, have tested positive for the killer bug.
In London, more than 1,200 staff at commodity pricing agency S&P Global Platts' office in Canary Wharf have been ordered to work from home after a visitor was later diagnosed with Covid-19.
It comes a day after HSBC confirmed that an employee at its Canary Wharf headquarters had tested positive.
The UK's latest cases emerged as Boris Johnson pledged a further £46million for research into a vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests.
The Prime Minister announced the funding during a tour of a Bedfordshire laboratory, where British scientists are working on a quick and cheap way to diagnose coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said that it looked like the UK will face a "substantial period of disruption" due to the coronavirus.
He added: "It looks like there will a substantial period of disruption where we have to deal with this outbreak."
