Here are simple precautions that can protect you from contracting the rapidly spreading Coronavirus.

A UK supermarket has gone viral after introducing a surprising new rule sparked by coronavirus panic.

Staff members in an Iceland supermarket branch in Rochdale in England have raised eyebrows after taping a handwritten note inside a store.

RELATED: ‘We’ve got the virus vaccine’

RELATED: China tracks down first virus case

“Due to the nationwide corona scare we won’t be accepting money that has currently been in people’s mouths, bras, shoes. Thank you, Iceland staff”.

A photo of the scrawled note was snapped by shopper Elliot Eastwick and shared on Twitter with the caption “Never change Rochdale”.

It quickly drew the attention of thousands of revolted social media users, who shared horror stories of similar disgusting customer behaviour.

“I went to a shop where the assistant had gloves on for virus protection. She said a guy was in earlier and when she explained why she had the gloves (handling money from unwashed hands being one reason) he LICKED HIS MONEY before handing it over. We Are Doomed,” one Twitter user posted.

“They forgot to mention those who keep it ‘down there’! Not joking I have seen it happen!” another said, while another wrote: "Bit late to the party but once, when I was a cashier at WH Smith, a customer put money in my hand straight from his pocket and there was a pube in it.”

The sign comes as the number of coronavirus cases continues to jump rapidly, with around 600 people testing positive for the illness in the UK and just shy of 200 in Australia.

Yesterday, Hollywood star Tom Hanks dropped the bombshell revelation he and his wife Rita Wilson, who are currently in Australia, have also tested positive and today it was revealed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire had also been struck down, with the leader now in self-isolation.

The Australian Medical Association has described the coronavirus crisis as a national health emergency, as a ban on public gatherings looks certain and calls grow to close schools and universities.

A wave of major events including the Grand Prix are now being cancelled, with University of Sydney Professor Robert Booy claiming the best-case scenario would be just 20 per cent of people getting COVID-19 – around 1.5 million in NSW alone.

The worst-case scenario is that half the population comes down with the virus.

A total 195 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed across Australia, with 92 in New South Wales, 36 in Victoria, 35 in Queensland, 12 in South Australia, 14 in Western Australia, four in Tasmania, one in the Northern Territory and one in the ACT.

Three people, aged 95, 82 and 78, have died.