Handwashing in the Right Way - Perfect Tool to Prevent COVID-19
Handwashing is a perfect tool to prevent COVID-19. Photo: BBC

Handwashing is a perfect tool to prevent COVID-19

Along with other public health measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places, etc., handwashing is also an effective tool to prevent COVID-19 and other diseases.

‘Handwashing has always been one of the most effective ways of keeping diseases at bay. It is a simple act that pays in dividends when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy and safe. Handwashing is also one of the key cornerstones of COVID-19 prevention. Now more than ever as we embrace the new normal and live with COVID-19, hand hygiene needs to become an integral part of our daily routine and our lives, as we live through this pandemic, and beyond, to protect us from diseases,’ said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

With COVID-19 transmission mainly spreading between people through direct, indirect (through contaminated objects or surfaces), or close contact with infected people via mouth and nose secretions, washing hands with soap and running water is of critical importance, as cited by WHO.

To stop the spread of COVID-19, along with other COVID appropriate behaviours, the practice of handwashing at regular intervals is a must, after coughing or sneezing, when caring for the sick, after using the toilet, before eating, while preparing food and after handling animals or animal waste. Handwashing after touching common surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, or after one comes back home from visiting a public place will keep ourselves and others around us safe.

“Promoting hand hygiene at all levels of health care is also critical. Hand hygiene, a very simple action, is well accepted to be one of the primary modes of reducing healthcare-associated infection and of enhancing patient safety,” the Regional Director said.

How to handwash in the right way?

The pandemic is still among us and it is far from over. We must remind ourselves of the basics that we as individuals can do to keep ourselves safe, she said.

Here is the original tutorial on handwash in the right way to prevent COVID-19 as released by the World Health Organisation.

Handwashing in the Right Way - Perfect Tool to Prevent COVID-19
Guide to washing your hand. Photo: WHO

UNICEF also shared a handwashing dance video by Quang Dang, a Vietnamese dancer, in a post on March 4, stressing to people that washing their hands with soap and water is one of the first steps in protecting themselves from coronavirus, as cited by Nhân Dân.

The WHO global hand hygiene campaign SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands mobilizes people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities, thus protecting health care workers and patients from COVID-19 and other pathogens. Hand Hygiene is one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus. Community members can play a critical role in fighting COVID-19 by adopting frequent hand hygiene as part of their day-to-day practices.
Handwashing in the Right Way - Perfect Tool to Prevent COVID-19
The handwashing campaign by WHO. Photo: WHO
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