March 11, 2020 12.34 pm This story is over 47 months old

Lincoln hospital rations hand sanitiser over theft fears

The rationing comes at a time when people are panic buying supplies

Lincoln County Hospital has started to ration its supply of alcohol gel over theft fears.

While the hospital did not confirm whether there had been any thefts, United Lincolnshire Hopsitals Trust said that they were taking proactive measures to prevent it.

As a result, anywhere in the hospital which is not under the direct supervision of hospital staff will be provided with less alcohol gel.

In the meantime, people in the hospital have been urged to wash their hands with soap and water.

The rationing comes as people are beginning to panic buy supplies of dried foods, toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and soap in their local shops and supermarkets.

In Lincoln, photos have emerged of empty shelves at Waitrose, ASDA, and Morrisons. Supermarkets have begun to limit purchases in response.

Photo: Matt Smith

So far, two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire: one in Lincolnshire last Friday, and a second in North Lincolnshire on Tuesday.

At least one Lincoln pupil is in coronavirus self-quarantine for the next 14 days after returning to the country from a personal trip abroad.

A Lincoln village school that arrived in Italy just before coronavirus put the country into lockdown was forced to abandon the ski trip.