Wash Your Hands!
There is only one serious solution to protect yourself against the coronavirus — and best above all it is a surprisingly easy one:
WASH YOUR HANDS!*
While health experts warn not to fall into panic, many have already succumbed to this temptation. The media are filled with news on COVID-19 and supermarkets are being ‘looted’ for toilet paper, noodles, and other basic goods. The advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the coronavirus outbreak could not be simpler, however:
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
This should not even be considered needed advise. If in luck, your parents and grandparents might have told you repeatedly while growing up, insisted even when it came to any meals to wash your hands. And while 92% of Americans report washing their hands only 66% actually do. Worse, 70% reportedly skip soap repeatedly…
Twitter users have made it a sport to sarcastically comment on people’s responses to the coronavirus:
Mad that we needed something like the corona virus for ppl to wash their hands
Did it really take a potentially global epidemic for people to start washing their hands? It is time to channel people’s fear into actually beneficial behaviour that doesn’t leave people fighting for toilet paper and masks.
It is incredibly easy advise and yet people opt for much more extravagant solutions. Here we should simply follow the science. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Avoid touching your face. Keep your distance when talking to others. And avoid places that are going to be crowded.
One caveat: do not just wash your hands for a few seconds. Do it well and thoroughly for 20 to 30 seconds. The difference is substantial and you will be able to minimize the risk of infection.
Follow the science!
*Note:
The original article appeared on the 7th of March. In order to protect yourself and others, you should now minimize your contact with others. Nevertheless, handwashing is a must — for it minimizes the risks of infection drastically.
