Qld toilet paper truck bursts into flames

A semi-trailer loaded with toilet paper erupted into flames on a Queensland highway overnight.

The blaze closed the Northbound lanes on the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane from 10pm until the charred remains were cleared at 2am on Thursday.

It is understood firefighters managed to save a second trailer of toilet paper on the B-double from the inferno.

Parts of the country experience shortages after customers began panic buying the item due to concerns a coronavirus outbreak will lead to forced isolation.

Major retailer Woolworths restricted sales to no more than four packs of the product per person on Wednesday in the wake of customers being filmed fighting over the product.

Toilet paper producers have allayed fears of shortages saying they are ramping up production and authorities have urged the public to stop stockpiling toilet paper.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has labelled public reaction to the virus "quite ridiculous" because the quarantine period for those who contract the virus is only 14-days.

Almost 50 people have now tested positive for coronavirus across the country.