Will using hand sanitiser protect you from coronavirus?

The short answer is yes - but it should always be a second option.

Sunrise GP Ginni Mansberg explained the best practice for stopping the spread of germs is to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

That includes keeping your hands under the water for the whole 20 seconds and remembering to wash your hands down to your wrist.

Mansberg’s comments reiterate what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has previously advised.

"Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands," it says on its website.

Another way of protecting yourself from spreading any virus is by practising respiratory hygiene.

That includes covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing and discarding used tissues immediately.

Maintaining a distance of at least one metre from people who are showing symptoms of the virus can also help, as can avoiding touching your eyes nose and mouth.

When it comes to face masks, if you’re healthy you only really need to wear one if you’re taking care of a person suspected to be infected with coronavirus.

However, you should wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.

"Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water," WHO says.

"If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly."

More than 1500 people have died from the coronavirus since its outbreak in China late last year.

There have been more than 67,000 reported cases worldwide.