Pharmacist wearing a mask and gloves serves customers queuing up outside a Boots store in west London
- Shoppers lined up outside a Boots pharmacy in Hampton, London on Monday
- Customers passed items through door by employee in surgical mask and gloves
- It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases across Britain jumped to 1,950 today
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Customers at a Boots store were spotted lining up outside the shop to be served by a pharmacist in a mask and gloves amid growing fears over coronavirus.
In a clip filmed on Monday afternoon, seven shoppers were seen standing outside a Boots pharmacy in Hampton, London as an employee passed items to a woman waiting by the door.
The customer then walked away holding what appeared to be a prescription bag as the chemist turned to speak to another woman waiting in line near the shop door.
Another member of staff was seen speaking to those waiting outside the chemist in plastic gloves and an apron in a photograph taken at the scene.
It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in Britain jumped to 1,950 today, with a further 407 positive tests confirmed by the Department of Health.
Shoppers were seen being served by a pharmacist in a surgical mask and gloves outside a Boots store in Hampton, London on Monday afternoon
At least 56 people have died as a result of the virus in the UK, with a second death reported in Scotland this afternoon.
The chemist had NHS-branded signs in the window asking the public to ‘not enter the building’ if they had any symptoms of the deadly virus, or if they had travelled to Iran, Hubei province in China, South Korea or Italy in the past 14 days.
It is unclear whether the customers were served outside the local Boots pharmacy as part of the company’s normal procedure concerning the virus.
A passerby who filmed the clip said he was ‘not sure’ how long shoppers at the pharmacy had been served in this way.
The customers had congregated outside the local pharmacy in a line as an employee handed them items from the door
Another member of staff was seen speaking to those waiting outside the chemist in plastic gloves and an apron (left) in a photograph of the scene
The government has urged the over-70s and those with significant pre-existing conditions to self-isolate for three months amid the pandemic, which has seen 187,000 people infected worldwide.
These groups could be asked within days to remain ‘largely shielded from social contact’ for 12 weeks as the government desperately tries to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
Coronavirus poses the largest threat to people who have weaker immune systems or long-term illnesses, according to Public Health England.
Addressing MPs earlier this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘For those who have significant health conditions, the NHS will be in contact with you over the next week.
The chemist had NHS-branded signs in the window asking the public to ‘not enter the building’ if they had any symptoms of the deadly virus or had travelled to an at-risk country
‘We’ll publish a list of those conditions and if you think you should have been contacted and you haven’t by next week, then get in contact with the NHS.’
Boris Johnson last night urged everyone in the country to stop all ‘non-essential’ contact with others in a dramatic press conference.
He added that people should avoid contact that is not absolutely necessary – with restaurants, bars and cinemas and travel off limits.
Entire households should self-isolate for two weeks if one person has been showing symptoms, and older people should prepare to stay away from risks for months.
Mr Johnson said that meant ‘you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials’.
MailOnline has contacted Boots for comment.