The alert for the coronavirus COVID-19 is increasing and although we must remain calm and inform ourselves well before going to the hospital or any medical center, we must take into account some recommendations to avoid the transmission of the virus, among which we highlight the importance to wash our hands using an alcohol-based sanitizer .
A person can contract COVID-19 from contact with another who is infected with the virus through droplets from the nose or mouth that are thrown away when an infected person coughs or exhales and that can fall on objects and surfaces that surround the person. That is why other people can get COVID-19 if they touch these objects or surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth, which is why it is so important to wash your hands properly. They can also be spread if they breathe in droplets that a person with COVID-19 has spread by coughing or exhaling.
That is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter away from a person who is ill and to take a series of recommendations . One of them is to have a very correct hygiene of our hands . It is not something new and you always have to wash your hands, especially after touching these things, but now, with the spread of COVID-19, you must pay even more attention to it.
How a hand sanitizer has to be to protect against coronavirus
Although washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds would be enough to avoid contagion, it is not always easy for us, so the health authorities recommend using antiseptic gels or hand sanitizer as well . But … how does a disinfectant gel have to be to protect us from the coronavirus? Are all antiseptics effective? The answer to this last question is no, and then we are going to give you some indications that you should take into account when you go to an antiseptic gel .
According to the WHO, using an alcohol-based disinfectant will kill the viruses that may be on the hands, thus avoiding the possible spread of coronavirus. So if you can't wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water –they are the main vehicle for microbial transmission–, use an antiseptic that contains between 60% (minimum) and 80% alcohol in its composition.
Sanitizing gel is a good substitute when you can't wash your hands with soap and water.
At present you can find two types of gels: cosmetics, whose objective is to clean and perfume, and biocides, those that serve to kill microbes and should have a health registration number on the label . The latter are the most effective and the ones you should use. The WHO clarifies that gels are less effective than liquids.
And how to apply hand sanitizer?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a quantity of product to one hand and rubbing with both. The gel should be applied to all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the gel has dried. Take your time, minimum 20 seconds.
With concerns about the coronavirus, many of the disinfectant and antiseptic gels have been out of stock in pharmacies and supermarkets, so always make sure you have soap and water nearby.
Summarizing…
- Wash your hands with water and soap. If you don't have access to soap, it is time to use an antiseptic.
- The disinfectant you use must have more than 60% alcohol in its composition.
- They must have a health registration number on the label.
- According to the WHO, liquid antiseptics are more efficient than gel.
- Apply the hand sanitizer and rub it in for 20 seconds.
