Novel Coronavirus - wash your hands of the threat

Viruses such as coronavirus and influenza spread very quickly from an infected person to others through:

• the air, after coughing or sneezing
• close personal contact, such as when shaking hands or touching others
• touching an object or surface on which the virus is found, then - before washing our hands - touching our mouth, nose, or eyes

With a potential third wave of COVID-19 infections in South Africa, hand washing and other preventive measures such as mask wearing are more important than ever. World Hand Hygiene Day is a global campaign celebrated every year on 5 May. For World Hand Hygiene Day this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on everyone to make clean hands a habit, as it protects us all.

Simply put, the slogan, "Seconds save lives - clean your hands" is one to live by, particularly during a time when corona fatigue is causing many people to become less likely to wear their masks, wash their hands and maintain physical distancing.

The possibility of a third wave of COVID-19 infections may coincide with our annual Influenza (flu) season", says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Discovery Health Head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence. "We may therefore face a combined threat as both viruses may cause severe disease and death, especially in vulnerable people (older people and those with underlying chronic conditions)".

The Influenza virus kills an average of 470 000 people each year globally. Let's put that into perspective. Most large airplanes carry around 550 passengers. That equates to all the people on 854 flights, dying of flu each year. "Many of these deaths could be prevented if people take their annual flu vaccine and practiced other preventative habits like correct hand-washing," adds Dr Nematswerani.

The Novel Coronavirus has caused over 54,000 deaths in South Africa with over 1.5 million infections within a year of the outbreak.

"If we, as a South African people make sure we are washing our hands the right way, we will go a long way in preventing the spread of a number of viral, bacterial and parasitic illnesses. We don't require new technological innovations or high-cost strategies to do this. It comes down to using one of our oldest inventions - a bar of soap and running water - and washing our hands right," adds Dr Nematswerani.

HOW LONG should you wash your hands for?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people need to vigorously wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to kill viruses or bacteria. "Most people wash their hands for around six seconds," adds Dr Nematswerani. "That means that dirt and microbes that spread illnesses are staying on their hands, upping our chances of becoming ill and making others ill."

• An excellent way to ensure the right amount of time is spent washing hands is to simultaneously hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end, twice.

HOW should you wash your hands?

• The steps listed below are set out in our hand-washing video and also illustrated by the WHO here.

Using soap and water:

1. Wet hands with water and apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands
2. Rub hands palm to palm, with fingers interlaced.
3. Rub the right palm over the back of the left hand with interlaced fingers - and vice versa
4. Rub hands palm to palm again, with fingers interlaced
5. Rub the back of your fingers into the opposing palm with fingers interlaced
6. Rub rotationally with the left hand clasped in right palm and vice versa
7. To clean the tips of the fingers, group them into a point and rub them into the opposite palm in a rotational pattern
8. Rinse hands thoroughly with running water
9. Dry hands thoroughly with a single-use towel
10. If the tap is not elbow operated, use the same towel to turn off the tap.

When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub as follows:

• Count to 5 for each of the following steps

1. Apply a palmful of hand rub into a cupped hand - enough to cover all the surfaces of the hands.
2. Rub  hands palm to palm, with fingers interlaced.
3. Then rub each palm over the back of the other hand with interlaced fingers
4. Again rub hands palm to palm with fingers interlaced
5. Group your fingers into a point and rub them in a circular pattern into each palm
6. Rub each palm rotationally within each opposing hand
7. Clean each thumbs by rubbing it in a rotational way while it is clasped by the fingers of the opposite hand
8. Clean the tips of your fingers by rubbing them into each opposing palm

• NOTE: Use of an alcohol-based hand rub is not appropriate when hands are visibly dirty or after using the toilet. Ideally, use soap and water to clean your hands.

And, WHEN should we wash our hands?

The World Health Organization recommends:

1. Washing your hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty.

2. If your hands are not visibly dirty then clean them with soap and water or clean them with an alcohol-based hand rub/sanitiser.

3. Washing your hands often, especially:

• After coughing or sneezing
• When caring for the sick
• After being in environments where ill people are cared for, like hospitals
• Before during and after preparing food
• Before eating
• After using the toiler
• After handling animals or animal waste
• After touching garbage

4. Also, remember to avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

5. And, always practice cough etiquette when you cough by maintaining your distance from others and cover your mouth and nose with clothing, or with a flexed elbow or a tissue (discard it immediately) and wash your hands immediately afterwards.

6. Keep your hands clean to reduce your risk of infection while travelling:

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from fever and cough
• Frequently clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands, especially when using public transport
• If you choose to wear a face mask be sure to cover your mouth and nose and avoid touching the mask once it's on

Immediately discard single-used mask after each use and wash your hands after removing the mask

For more information on COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 hub

All medical information found on this website including content, graphics and images, is for educational and informational objectives only. Discovery Health publishes this content to help to protect and empower all South Africans by promoting a better understanding of COVID-19.