THE Government is working with supermarkets to ensure food supplies as the number of people self-isolating with coronavirus is expected to rise, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock sought to reassure the public following panic-buying in some areas including Berkshire, with supermarkets seeing their shelves cleared of essentials such as toilet roll and paracetamol.

It comes as an older patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person to die in the UK at the Royal Berkshire Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

LIVE BLOG: Latest updates after first UK death related to coronavirus happens in Reading

Speaking on BBC's Question Time, Mr Hancock said: "The Government has supplies of the key things that are needed, and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won't be a problem there.

"And, crucially, we are working to makes sure that if people are self isolating, they will be able to get the food and supplies that they need."

He said there was "absolutely no need" for individual people "to go round buying more than they need."

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He added: "The very, very strong advice from the scientists, from the medics, is that people should not go buying more than they need."

Mr Hancock also told anyone self-isolating with coronavirus to stay away from their own family members as much as possible, and to wipe down shared surfaces such as in bathrooms.

He said: "People should try to self-isolate from their families, not only go home, try not to go out shopping, definitely don't use public transport, but within your own home you should also try to self-isolate."

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He said that, as the father of three children, he understood that "can be difficult and some people have caring responsibilities", but people should try to keep to themselves as much as possible.

On Thursday evening, the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading said the older patient who died had been "in and out of hospital" for other reasons but was admitted on Wednesday evening and tested positive.

It came during a day of several key developments, with the number of UK cases of Covid-19 surging to 116 - more than double the total 48 hours earlier - and Downing Street warning it was "highly likely" the virus would spread "in a significant way".

Following the news of the UK death, Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered his sympathy to the family of the patient, while England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said he was "very sorry" to report the news.

He added: "We believe they contracted the virus in the UK and contact tracing is already under way."