As the world grapple with understanding of coronavirus or Covid-19 like it’s popularly called and how to curb its spread, sales of hand sanitizer gel have soared. In the UK, some supermarkets have already run out and Boots is rationing purchases to two bottles a customer. But is hand gel really effective against coronavirus? And, if so, should we be making our own if it is not available in the shop? Hand sanitizer is not new. In 1966, Lupe Hernandez, a student nurse from California, patented the idea of an alcohol-based gel to clean hands in the absence of handwashing facilities.The popularity of hand gels has not just been driven by the fear of pandemics. Lucrative opportunites to market them have pushed sales: they come in pretty, child-friendly colours and with wellness-friendly scents that are far cry from the pungent-smelling version found in hospitals. Furthermore, sanitizers have also evolved to include other active ingredients in place of alcohol, and there are recipes online for making your own. Good housekeeping suggests vodka. Wellness bloggers plum for things such as witch-hazel and aloe vera. But are these effective in killing germs? In this article, we’ll be looking at hand sanitizer and handwashing to know which one is more effective in combating Covid-19.
Hand sanitizer or Handwashing, which is Better?
Sally Bloomfield, a professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says that viruses are much more resistant to disinfectants than bacteria . Luckily, he he says, coronavirus is an envelope virus, meaning it has a coating around it which the alcohol can attack, thereby eliminating the threat. This means that your own sanitizer, while potentially effective against some bacteria, is not something Bloomfield would recommend. The key thing is when to use hand sanitizer. Covid-19 is a new illness, so no one knows exactly how it spreads. According to NHS, it is likely that it is through cough droplets spread from person to person and very unlikely that it is transmitted through objects, be that packages or food.
The best option is soap and water. Using running water and soap to wash your hand is more effective than a dab of gel that you have not quite rubbed in. When it comes to hygiene and safety, what matters isn’t a single viral cell, it’s how much of the virus is on any given surface. We don’t have conclusive proof of the extent to which soap can deactivate enough of the viral cells to make a surface safe. However, we do know that washing with soap will dislodge viral cells from your hands, and rinsing thoroughly with water will remove them completely and flush them down the drain. You can touch your hands to your face and not get infected.
So, wet your hands with water, lather them up properly, on both sides, in between the fingers and under the nails, one hand and then the other. Rinse them thoroughly under running water for 20seconds. Rinsing thoroughly Is key to washing away any viruses. Dry your hands well with a disposable towel, then use that towel to turn off the tap before throwing it away.
By and large, it is impossible not to engage with world, so you just need to be cautious and methodical in your hand hygiene. If everyone complies with good hygiene, then you’re making sure as far as possible that you’re not picking it up, and in the unlikely event you are infected, you’re not spreading.
