Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday morning as the coronavirus outbreak triggered an 8 per cent drop in the FTSE. But how will the Covid-19 crisis impact you as a consumer? Is it time to start stockpiling goods and what refunds are you entitled to?

Over lunchtime on Monday, the Telegraph’s Consumer Champion, Katie Morley, answered your coronavirus questions. Below, is a selection of the best answers from Monday's Q&A.

Can we get a refund for a holiday to Northern Italy?

As it stands, you should be entitled to a refund via your travel insurance, as the government has advised against all but essential travel to Northern Italy, including Milan. Phone your holiday provider to discuss your options. Remember, we've got this handy guide on everything you need to know about travelling to Italy.

Should we also start cancelling UK trips?

As you’re travelling inside the UK, the current advice is that there would be no reason to cancel your holiday over coronavirus. But the official advice could change very quickly. I’d keep an eye on the situation and, certainly, don’t pay the deposit before you need to. Put in place some decent travel insurance that will cover you for cancellation if the situation escalates.

I've been told to work from home but have paid for an annual season ticket - can I get a refund?

I’m afraid Network Rail said you won’t be eligible for a discount. This is because your season ticket already gives you 12 weeks for “free” travel, which accounts for holidays and sickness. Having said that, your company might have a different policy, so check with them.

Should we be worried about deliveries from China?

Almost certainly no, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It said that because of poor survivability of coronavirus on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. So you should be fine.

What about post that comes through the door?

At the moment the advice we are getting is that the vast, vast majority of people don’t have the virus. So at this stage it's highly unlikely that the postman, or food delivery driver has the virus in the first place. That said, if they did, it is (just about) possible, although extremely unlikely, I’m told by scientific experts, for the virus to pass from person to person on a surface such as plastic or paper.

So, there’s really no need to panic yet. But if you want extra peace of mind, you could open your post, throw the envelopes straight in the bin, and then wash your hands thoroughly. You could also wash plastic carrier bags with a bleach solution, or discard them straight away and wash your hands, if you were being extra cautious.

Can I stop my child from going to school?

My understanding is that you’d need to get permission from the school before keeping her off. If you keep her off school without explaining it, it could be classed as an "unexplained absence", which could lead to you being fined. I understand your concerns, but it’s best to follow official advice. At the moment the government isn’t saying its unsafe for your granddaughter to be attending school. If a pupil at the school was found to have coronavirus, however, appropriate measures would be taken.

What should we do about our holiday to Disneyland?

At the moment there is no official travel advice that it is unsafe to travel to the US. And Disney’s chief medical officer issued a statement two days ago saying it was still welcoming guests. However the situation could change at any time. Stay in touch with your travel providers and put some good insurance in place. We've got a very handy guide to travel insurance here.

How to ask a question

Leave your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this article. Alternatively, if you are reading this on the Telegraph app, or don’t have a Telegraph account, you can submit a question by emailing yourstory@telegraph.co.uk. If you would like to remain anonymous, please disclose this when you ask your question.

*DISCLAIMER: None of the information provided in this Q&A constitutes or is a substitute for medical advice. If you believe you may have been exposed to the virus or have any other concerns then you should follow government advice.