The household item which could help protect you from coronavirus outbreak
Hand hygiene is one of the best ways to stay healthy during the coronavirus epidemic but as supermarket stocks run low on hand sanitiser, a doctor in the UK has suggested an alternative to keep your hands clean and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dr Adrian Heald from Mid Norfolk has recommended using dishwashing detergent if you can’t find liquid soap.
“People, please do not panic if liquid soaps are sold out, a bar will also do the job (rinse after use and pat dry) or use dish washing liquid, the coronavirus has a fatty outer layer, anything that dissolves fat will work!” he wrote on Twitter.
Dr Heald also warned against relying on hand sanitiser and urged people to focus more on thoroughly washing hands “for a minimum of 20 seconds, ideally 30 seconds”.
“I would recommend that people wash their hands more often, sanitisers might give a false sense of security,” he wrote.
The Doctor suggested that dishwashing liquid may be more effective than soap when it comes to slowing down the spread of coronavirus.
“COVID-19 is an enveloped virus, it means it has a fatty outer layer, so washing up liquid is a detergent, it will break down the other layer of the virus if you wash your hands well,” he posted.
People since we all wash our hands more regularly (I hope) we shouldn't forget to use hand creams and lotions if our hands are getting dry, you want to avoid lesions and skin cracks!
— Dr Adrian Heald (@DrAdrianHeald) March 12, 2020
Dr Heald also suggested dishwashing liquid as it lathers well regardless of water temperature.
“I think the washing up liquid will last them possibly a lot longer and might be easier to use if warm water is a problem as it doesn't need to lather as much as soap,” he posted on Twitter.
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More hand washing may lead to dry and cracked skin, which is why Dr Heald suggests people use moisturiser to prevent dry skin, as open wounds could leave a greater risk of infection.
“Hand creams, if you wash your hands more often (something you should have done anyway) protect your skin against dryness and possible sores or cracking as it might make you prone to infections,” Dr Heald wrote.
These are 7 simple steps to protect yourself and others from #COVID19.
👉 https://t.co/RU2gRs6jmc #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/TNAw5YrP0u— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
The World Health Organisation agrees that washing hands frequently is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We frequently use our hands to touch objects and surfaces that may be contaminated. Without realising it, we then touch our faces, transferring viruses to our eyes, nose and mouth where they can infect us.
“Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands — including the virus that causes COVID-19,” the WHO website explains.
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