A product found in insect repellent can kill the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, research by Britain's defense laboratory has shown. 

Scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) are sharing their preliminary findings so others are able to conduct further research, Sky News understands.

Britain's armed forces were issued with an insect repellent that contains a product called Citriodiol because it was believed it might offer a new layer of protection against COVID-19, Sky News revealed in April.

Citriodiol is already known to kill other types of coronavirus.

Defense scientists subsequently conducted research to see whether it would provide a protective layer against COVID-19, with those results being released on Wednesday.

The company that produces Citriodiol also believed it could offer protection against the novel coronavirus.

Jacqueline Watson, managing director of Citrefine International Ltd, said in April she would like the government to support a formal testing programme.