Ooh, you’ve missed a bit!

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve washed my hands today. COVID-19 has got the World at their basins scrubbing away several times throughout the day. It’s the first thing that I taught my family when I learned about the seriousness of the pandemic.

But are you handwashing well enough for it to be effective?

Since there is no current protection against the COVID-19 virus, handwashing is one of the few ways of protecting ourselves.

Why is it important?

We don’t know exactly how COVID-19 is spread, but we are beginning to learn some important facts. Although, direct touch is unlikely to be the main way of spreading the virus, it remains an important risk.

One study showed that we each touch our face 23 times per hour! Almost half of the time it is to our mucus membranes like our eyes, nose and mouth. From these areas we can catch the infection that’s on our hands. So if you have been touching an infected surface at the supermarket or on the train…….

How long does COVID-19 stay on surfaces?

Aerosol: up to 3 hours

The virus is present in droplets in the air so it can spread by someone coughing or sneezing nearby.

Copper: up to 4 hours

Cardboard: up to 24 hours

Beware your Amazon delivery!

Plastic and stainless steel: up to 2-3 days

The supermarket trolley!

Faecal matter

There is some evidence that the virus is shed in faecal matter so a person not washing their hands after visiting the toilet can spread it onto surfaces.

Soap and water or sanitising gel?

Soap and water is best but if you don’t have any handy, then use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.

How long do you wash for?

20 seconds.

That’s the time to sing Happy Birthday twice! I can just picture you at the basin singing as you wash!

Watch this video and see if you have a black-belt in handwashing.

Stay safe!