I've been visiting Somerset in the van for a few days, and last night I stayed in a picnic area and truck stop. This morning I went into the cafe for an early morning coffee, and I was offered a bottle of hand sanitiser, and asked to use some. This is obviously as a result of the Coron Virus appearing in the UK. I had no problem with complying, but I'm not sure how useful it is. Far more of a problem could be the communal use of the 'loos in my opinion.
The hand sanitizer is a protective measure, more effective than masks.
To OP, using hand sanitiser helps you really because it can wipe off virus if it presented on your hands then you will be less likely affected.
But corona is turning into more disastrous than everyone thought.
The active ingredient in hand sanitizer is Alcohol. Alcohol in abut 70% concentration is highly effective in destroying virus.