Customers are only allowed to buy two gels at a London branch (Picture: Getty/Jen Mills/Metro.co.uk)

A branch of high street chemist Boots has imposed a two-bottle limit on the amount of hand sanitiser people can buy.

It comes amid increased demand for the germ-killing gel due to coronavirus fears.

Customers at High Street Kensington in London who want to buy the sanitiser are met with a sign saying: ‘Due to high demand we are only selling two hand sanitisers per person. Sorry for any inconvenience.’

When Metro.co.uk tried to buy hand sanitiser on two occasions in the past week, the branch was completely sold out.


A sign up in Boots, High Street Kensington (Picture: Jen Mills/Metro.co.uk)

A spokesperson for Boots said that there had been an increase in sales of the gel, but that stock was still available in warehouses for stores and online.



They added they were looking to secure stock of face masks over the coming weeks, with a focus on airports and train stations.

On the Boots website, Dettol On The Go Antibacterial Hand Gel is marked as out of stock, but other brands are available with customers able to buy a maximum of four.

People online have been sharing their difficulties in finding the hand gel, including at Superdrug and in Tesco.

One woman shared a photograph of empty shelves at the chemist, while another wrote: ‘Tried to buy hand sanitiser today at superdrug – the WHOLE section was out of stock.

Empty shelves at a Superdrug in London on February 4 (Picture: Getty)

Empty shelves where hand sanitiser gels have sold out (Picture: Getty)

Pharmacies have seen a spike in sales of hand sanitiser amid concern about the outbreak of coronavirus (Picture: Getty)

‘Tried another two stores, same thing! Apparently there’s a shortage of hand sanitisers all over.. scary!’

People are looking to buy sanitiser and face masks amid fears of the new coronavirus, called Covid-19.

The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread to countries including South Korea, Iran and Italy.









Tried to buy hand sanitiser today at superdrug – the WHOLE section was out of stock. Tried another two stores, same thing ð§! Apparently there’s a shortage of hand sanitisers all over.. scary! — muna mohamed (@MunaMohamed94) February 24, 2020





Tesco in Hove/Portslade have run out of hand sanitiser, which I would normally mock as unnecessary panic but I only know because I was trying to buy some. — frances quinn (@franquinn) February 11, 2020

Thirteen cases have been confirmed in the UK, including four over the weekend who had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was held in quarantine in Japan.

A spokesperson for Boots said: ‘The best way to help prevent catching a virus is by making sure that you regularly wash your hands with soap, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent transmission from surfaces, especially after blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing. Antiviral hand foams and gel can also be useful when you are out and about.

‘All our pharmacists have the latest public health advice on coronavirus and can offer advice on the best way to stay healthy this winter.’

Superdrug declined to comment.

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