Supplies of bread, eggs and flour are joining the ever-growing list of basic items fast-disappearing from the supermarket shelves.

The Prime Minister announced at 4.45pm on Monday evening that if one member of a family shows signs of having the coronavirus, all of the family should self-isolate for 14 days and added "if possible you should not go out even to buy food" .Supermarkets the following morning saw Christmas-like shopping crowds emptying the shelves of basic foodstuffs they were allowed to take home with paracetemol, pasta and toilet tissues also on the list of must-have items.Concern for elderly shoppers saw Iceland the first to prioritise preference shopping hours between 9am and 11am every Wednesdy for anyone over 65.Sports events, theatre shows and community gatherings fell like nine pins as the relentless march of the Covid-19 virus hit Monmouthshire last week.Public Health Wales’ (PHW) official figures show eight cases of coronovirus in Monmouthshire although the Beacon understands there are more cases in Monmouth that have not been notified as anyone showing the first sign of the disease is asked to stay at home and not to go to a doctors or hospital.“People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if they think they may have contracted Covid-19,” said Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the outbreak response at PHW.“Instead, anyone who has a high temperature or a new continuous cough should stay at home for seven days.”Medical supplies have also been hit with one homecare business having to import masks and sanitiser from overseas as the cost of UK suppliers have shot through the roof. A spokesman for Cornpoppy Homecare said: “We need 200 masks per week but don’t know how were going to afford it, I’m hoping the government will put support in for supplies.”High street businesses have been hit with some independent shops reporting takings have slumped.The Welsh Government yesterday announced a package of support worth more than £200m for small businesses with retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less to receive 100 per cent business rate relief.