Australian supermarkets are cleaning self-serve checkouts regularly as they take extra precautions to minimise the threat of coronavirus.

Woolworths and Coles staff throughout the nation will undertake additional deep cleans and sanitise entire swathes of stores.

Staff have been instructed to wipe down surfaces multiple times during a shift to ensure stores stay as sanitary as possible.

Medics do not yet understand all of the characteristics of COVID-19, but believe it can survive for large periods of time on surfaces and be transferred between people via touch.

Australian supermarkets are cleaning self-serve checkouts (pictured) regularly as they take extra precautions to minimise the threat of coronavirus

Empty shelves in an Australian supermarket after panic buying due to the coronavirus crisis

In addition to the regular spot cleans, staff are performing deep cleans each night after the store closes to ensure it is safe for customers the next day.

There are now 123 cases of coronavirus across Australia, including three deaths, and the global tally has exceeded 119,000.

The rapid spread of the disease has caused concern among the general public, and resulted in an increase in demand for several household items, including toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 26,651 Victoria: 19,835 New South Wales: 4,166 Queensland: 1,149 Western Australia: 659 South Australia: 466 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 26,651 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES: 1,340 DEATHS: 810 Updated: 9.56 PM, 13 September, 2020 Advertisement

Supermarkets throughout Australia have experienced higher-than-average demand and have been struggling to meet manufacturing and supply needs.

Trolleys and baskets are regularly cleaned to help minimise the spread of germs, and Woolworths team members are 'directed to follow proper hygiene practices while on duty,' according to a team spokesman.

'As an extra measure we have instigated additional cleaning to target high-touch areas and equipment.

'We also provide hygiene stations - with anti-bacterial wipes for customers - next to our trolley bays.'

Similarly, Coles have introduced sanitiser stations at entrances and exits of stores and staff are encouraging customers to clean their hands.

'As a food retailer, Coles already has very high standards in place for the cleanliness of our stores,' a spokesperson told 9News.

'We have been reinforcing current cleaning and hygiene guidelines with all our team members and are following our food safety plans.'

On Tuesday, a Woolworths spokesman confirmed customers who shopped at the Livingston Marketplace in Canning Vale, south of Perth on Sunday had been exposed to the virus.

A customer who did not know she was carrying the virus did her groceries in the centre between 11.30am and 12.30pm, potentially infecting other customers.

'We have been advised that the risk to anyone (team members or customers) who were in the store during this time is very low,' a notice posted out the front of the store read.

'Anyone who was at the store around that time on Sunday and becomes unwell in the next two weeks should contact the Department of Health.

'We have a detailed cleaning program in our stores every day and are taking all actions required.

'As per public health advice, customers and team members should be assured they can continue to shop at our store with confidence.'