According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), handwashing with soap is critical in the fight against coronavirus. Thus, UNICEF is firm in reminding the public that handwashing is a key prevention measure against Covid-19. It is also urging renewed efforts to provide access to handwashing.
“Handwashing with soap is one of the cheapest, most effective things you can do to protect yourself and others against coronavirus, as well as many other infectious diseases. Yet for billions, even this most basic of steps is simply out of reach. It is far from a magic bullet. But it is important to make sure people know what steps they should take to keep themselves and their families safe, even as we continue our longstanding efforts to make basic hygiene and sanitation available to everyone,” states Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Director of Programmes.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reinforces the importance of handwashing. Moreover, the CDC recommends hand hygiene in a specific way. The guidance for effective handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer was developed based on data from a number of studies.
The World Health Organization has also published an illustration on how to properly execute a ‘handwash’. WHO also highlights the basic protective measures against Covid-19. These are: wash hands frequently; maintain social distancing; avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth; practice respiratory hygiene; seek medical care if experiencing fever, cough, and difficulty breathing; and to stay informed and follow the advice given by healthcare providers.
