Importance of hand washing during Covid-19
Clean hands protect you against any infection. Regular hand washing is the first line of defense to keep your hands free from infections, remove germs, and avoid getting sick. Covid-19 pandemic is taking a serious turn everywhere in the world with the alarming numbers of patients and mortality rate.
How Coronavirus spreads
COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, is a respiratory illness that can spread easily from an infected person through virus-laden droplets from coughs and sneezes. It is extremely important to follow the right precaution steps to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Touching or inhaling or any such surfaces can cause the spread of infection. We touch our face, especially eyes, mouth, nose several times every day. Respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 spread if virus-laden droplets or mucus reach your body from throat, eyes, or nose. Usually, the spread causes from your hands. And this makes it important to follow basic hygiene to contain the infection spread.
Understanding Covid-19 Virus
Covid-19 is not a living organism. It is a protein molecule having a lipid envelope, and therefore, it does not die; it decays. The time of decay may vary depending on several factors such as temperature, humidity, material surface it is attached to, and etc. lipid envelope is the thing that protects it. Foam formed by detergent or soap is the best solution as it dissolves the fat membrane, and the protein layer disintegrates, and the virus becomes inactive.
Importance of hand wash to prevent the Covid-19 disease spread
Alcohol or any liquid made up of 65 percent or more alcohol dissolves any fat. That’s the reason alcohol-based sanitizers/disinfectants are advised. Viruses can stay active outside the body for hours or even days. Alcohol-based gels, liquids, disinfectants, and wipes can be convenient to disinfect your hands when you are outside. However, soap, detergent, or hand-wash liquid works more effectively.
When should you wash your hands
Frequent hand washing is recommended. Wash hands
After using the toilet
After sneezing or coughing
When caring for the ill person
Before, during and after you prepare food
Before eating
After handling animals or animal waste
After touching any kind of surfaces
After changing diapers
Before attending little ones
After putting on your shoes
After touching garbage
After returning from outside
Whenever you touch commonly used things including computers/ lift buttons/light buttons, etc.
Hand washing is the best solution to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. However, it is essential to understand the right technique to wash your hands.
Here are proper hand washing steps -
Wet both your hands with water.
Apply a generous amount of soap/hand wash liquid and create lather to cover all hand surfaces.
Rub your hands - palm to palm.
Clean the back of your hands, in between your fingers, thumb, the end of your fingers, back of fingers, and wrist.
Rinse your hands under running water.
Dry the hands with a single-use towel to prevent cross-contamination.
Discard the tissue into trash properly.
It takes around 20 seconds to wash your hands properly following the above steps.
With several other measures like social distancing, avoiding gatherings, etc., washing hands frequently with proper technique is one of the easiest and effective ways to prevent the possible spread of the virus.