China, the travel industry and trade show organizers may be the big losers now that coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is spreading around the world, but there are some winners. According to Kantar, UK supermarket sales of  hand sanitizers soared 255% in February, as consumers sought protection to the sometimes fatal virus that is making headlines even faster than it is claiming victims. At the same time, sales of liquid soaps increased 7% and household cleaner sales rose 10%.

"Given the media focus around the outbreak of COVID-19 in February, its unsurprising to shoppers prudently protecting themselves from illness," observed Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar.