People have been urged not to panic buy as the coronavirus infection continues to spread across the UK.

The Government is working with supermarkets to ensure food supplies as the number of people self-isolating with coronavirus is expected to rise, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock sought to reassure the public following panic-buying in some areas, with supermarkets seeing their shelves cleared of essentials such as toilet roll and paracetamol.

A total of 163 people in the UK have now tested positive for coronavirus - the government has said this afternoon (Friday March 6).

NHS leaders are looking at setting up a second dedicated coronavirus ward at Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital.

Union officials say talks are already underway to boost care levels with a specialist second ward at the Royal Stoke University Hospital as the fight continues against the infectious condition.

That would be in addition to ward 117 - a specialist coronavirus isolation unit - which is already in operation at the Hartshill complex

Yesterday, it was confirmed two residents in Staffordshire have contracted coronavirus - while a third person is being treated at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

People who have been in close contact with the residents are being contacted by authorities who say there is no significant risk to anyone else in the county.

No further details about the residents, including location, will be issued by the authorities due to patient confidentiality.

Why are we 'live blogging' about Coronavirus?

Online, on social media, on TV and on the radio the British public are being bombarded with news and discussion about Coronavirus.

Information on the outbreak is constantly being updated and we're running this live blog as it's the best way for us to keep you up-to-date on the outbreak with news from official sources - without any hype or scaremongering.

The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate.

As the NHS says, most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places. You only need to stay away from public places (self-isolate) if advised to by the 111 online coronavirus service or a medical professional.

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