An irate Sydney shopper has been filmed flouting physical distancing rules to deliberately cough all over a supermarket staffer in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

Australia has introduced stringent COVID-19 strategies to combat the spread of the pandemic, which has already infected 2144 people and claimed eight lives.

In New South Wales, where the disturbing footage was filmed, extreme measures have been put in place - including people keeping 1.5 metres apart at all times, which the angry shopper willingly defied to cough on a checkout operator.