McCarthy's Pharmacy pharmacist Jamil Khalfan and North Orange Discount Drug Store pharmacist Tim Denham said both of their businesses were out of hand sanitiser due to a shortage of stock at the wholesalers.

"We have some face masks that have been provided by NSW Health for people who are at risk and people who have been travelling recently," Mr Khalfan said.

He said due to people with breathing issues requiring the P1 and P2 masks during the bushfires, McCarthy's ran out a while ago and there were only about 50 surgical masks for vulnerable people.

"We had the bushfires throughout summer which led people to getting them for dust and smoke," he said.

Mr Khalfan said priority would be given to people with comorbidity, which is one or more medical conditions that occur with a primary condition, that could lead to worse health outcomes.

"It was a government initiative, there's only a limited supply," he said.

"There's one per person only.

"We've had lots of people come in and ask do we have the [masks]."

Mr Khalfan said the coronavirus was not in Orange at this stage and to protect against illness people should wash their hands thoroughly, get a flu shot when they become available in late March or early April and use cough etiquette.

North Orange's Mr Denham said his pharmacy also had surgical masks available for people who were already unwell or suspected they had symptoms.

He said they were for people with a fever or cold symptoms in particular.

Mr Denham said those one-use-only masks were to protect pharmacy staff and were not a general preventative for other people who are concerned about the virus.

"At our pharmacy we have been out of stock of hand sanitiser, there's been a shortage at the wholesalers," Mr Denham said.

However, as well as following proper hygiene and hand washing he said people should also make sure they are healthy, hydrated and are getting enough sleep to help their immune system.

Blooms The Chemist was also out of both masks and sanitiser and Hogan's Pharmacy was out of hand sanitiser but still had a small supply of masks, with a five mask per person limit.

A spokeswoman from Blooms the Chemist said there had been an increased demand for masks and hand sanitiser products nationally,

"Interest in the current health situation is influencing this demand," she said.

"As of this past weekend, Blooms The Chemist Orange has sold out of face masks and hand sanitiser.

"As we know, face masks are under huge demand across the country and we envision some stores may remain out of stock of face masks for the foreseeable future.

"As per the Department of Health's recommendation, surgical masks are only helpful in preventing people with COVID-19 spreading it to others."

She said orders for hand sanitisers had been placed for the Orange store.

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