proper handwashing essay

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How to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Much of it follows traditional cold-season admonitions, but some is more specific

Harvard Staff Writer

Washing hands with plain soap and plain water kills viruses, but only if it’s done thoroughly and often.

This is the latest story in our Coronavirus Update series, in which Harvard specialists in epidemiology, infectious disease, economics, politics, and other disciplines offer insights into what the latest developments in the COVID-19 outbreak may bring.

Turns out Mom was right.

Health experts say the best, simplest ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 3,200 people and affected more than 100,000 around the world, follow the tried and true cold-season admonishments given out for generations. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your face. Stay home if you are sick.

But some of the advice has gotten a little more specific.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets, which typically travel about three to six feet and settle on surfaces, where they can live for a few hours up to several days, according to the World Health Organization. There is a risk of catching the disease by inhaling those particles, but there is a more significant risk of getting it by touching surfaces, such as desks, handrails, or doorknobs, where those droplets may have settled.

“The disease transmission goes from a cough or sneeze to a surface to your hand to your face, and that’s how people get infected,” said Paul Biddinger , director of the Emergency Preparedness Research, Evaluation, and Practice Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . “Good hand washing really matters. If people cough or sneeze into their elbow, that limits the spread of respiratory secretions. What all of us can do together is follow basic hygiene measures that will actually slow the spread of disease in communities.”

“Most people don’t wash their hands very well. As silly as it sounds to go watch a YouTube video on handwashing, people should do it to learn how to do it properly.” Paul Biddinger, Harvard Chan School

Basic hygiene measures may seem obvious, but they are important. Washing hands with plain soap and plain water kills viruses, but only if it’s done thoroughly and often. Hands should be scrubbed for at least 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice, to ensure germs won’t be transferred to objects or spread from person to person.

“Most people don’t wash their hands very well,” said Biddinger. “As silly as it sounds to go watch a YouTube video on handwashing, people should do it to learn how to do it properly. Washing hands has been clearly proved to decrease disease transmission and lower your chance of getting infected.”

Hand sanitizers may be helpful, if they contain at least 60 percent alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But if your hands are dirty or greasy the sanitizer won’t work, which is why the agency favors hand washing. A 2006 study found that hand washing can cut the risk of respiratory infection by 16 percent and a 2008 study showed a 21 percent reduction.

Experts acknowledge the hardest of the self-protective measures to follow is not touching one’s face. A 2015 study that observed medical students at the University of New South Wales found that each of them touched their face 23 times per hour on average.

It’s important to avoid face touching because germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Contaminated hands can transfer the virus when people rub their eyes, scratch their noses, or touch their mouths. “We all reflexively touch our face,” said Biddinger. “But trying to be more mindful of touching our face decreases our chance of infection.”

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The importance of following basic hygiene measures was highlighted by Mark Lipsitch , professor of epidemiology at the Harvard Chan School and director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics.

“Slowing the epidemic is what we have to do if we can’t stop it,” Lipsitch said in a Facebook Live event on Monday sponsored by the Forum at Harvard Chan School and PRI’s “ The World .”

“All those measures, small as some of they may be, help to slow the epidemic. There is a real coalescence between individually self-protective measures and measures that will benefit the community. Basic hygiene and self-protection measures are in fact socially beneficial.”

In the U.S., the coronavirus death toll rose to 12, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the number of reported COVID-19 cases climbed to 148 across 13 states as of March 5. The New York Times reported 163 cases in 18 states.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the new coronavirus is deadlier than the common flu, with a mortality rate of 3.4 percent. Seasonal flu kills fewer than 1 percent of those infected.

As the number of new cases outside China surges, concerns of a global pandemic are also rising. According to a March 4 report by the World Health Organization, there were only 120 new cases in China in the previous 24 hours, while 2,223 new cases were reported around the world. Eighty percent of the cases outside China were reported in South Korea, Italy, and Iran.

Health experts expect to see more coronavirus cases in New England, Massachusetts, and the Boston area, but Biddinger reminded the public to consult reputable information sites, such as the CDC or the Massachusetts Department of Health, to quell unfounded fears.

“Fear is not productive, and fear doesn’t protect you from illness in any way,” said Biddinger. “I encourage people to avoid the tremendous amount of misinformation that is out there on different social media sites. People need to get good information because being informed decreases fear, and they need to take basic hygiene measures that protect them. And even though those measures don’t sound very exciting, they are absolutely proved, by the data, to protect your health.”

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Effective Handwashing: Learn. Teach. Repeat.

May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day.

Of all the practical skills and lessons, learning to protect your health in a public health emergency or a natural disaster by teaching and practicing effective handwashing is the most important. Clean hands are essential to health, whether in an emergency or day-to-day life. Start making handwashing a practical skill today so that, no matter the occasion, everyone stays healthy.

Learn why handwashing and hand hygiene are important

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of germs, especially during a public health pandemic like Coronavirus (COVID-19) .

Washing your hands is easy! It takes about 20 seconds to do and is one of the best ways to prevent spreading germs from person to person.

By washing your hands with soap at key times during the day, you prevent spreading germs that cause illness in the people around you, particularly those at high risk for COVID-19 .

Wet your hands with safe water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under the water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

What if soap and water are unavailable?

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Take the following steps when using hand sanitizer:

Apply the product on the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount to use).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands, including in between fingers.
Allow your hands to dry completely before touching anything.

Hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations, but they do not eliminate all types of germs. Hand sanitizers can be an effective alternative to handwashing against COVID-19 , but handwashing should always be the first choice if soap and water are available .

Keep Hand Sanitizers Away from Young Children

Swallowing hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. In fact, U.S. Poison Control Centers received nearly 85,000 calls related to hand sanitizer exposure in children from 2011 through 2015.

Parents, caregivers, and teachers should keep hand sanitizers away from children, especially children younger than 5 years old. Younger children are more likely to be attracted to hand sanitizers that are scented, brightly colored, or nicely packaged.

Learn more by visiting CDC’s Show Me the Science – When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer webpage.

Stay prepared

There are steps you can take to prepare before a public health emergency. One way to stay ahead is to build an emergency supply kit that includes personal hygiene items, such as:

Soap (liquid or bar works fine)
Disinfectants and information on how to use them (also available in Spanish )
Hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol

How to teach toddlers to wash their hands

Adults can explain handwashing to young kids in a practical way and using language they can understand.

By the age of three, most children know the words to the “Happy Birthday” song, which takes 20 seconds to sing twice. So…

Provide them with a step stool that allows them to reach the sink.
Show them how to thoroughly wet their hands.
Show them how to lather their hands, covering the front, back, and in between their fingers
Sing it loud and proud . “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Parker, happy birthday to you.” Then sing it one more time!
Show them how to rinse their hands well under running water.
Show them how to dry their hands using a clean towel.

Give frequent reminders

Building new habits takes time and commitment, but once children develop them, they carry those habits with them throughout life. At first, your child will need regular reminders to wash their hands properly and throughout the day, especially:

After using the toilet
Before eating
After touching pets
After playing outside
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose

Clean hands are essential to health, whether in an emergency or day-to-day life. Start making handwashing a practical skill today so that, no matter the occasion, everyone stays healthy.

Lead by Example

Be a preparedness role model for your family and your community. Modeling healthy habits like regularly washing your hands can inspire others in your home and community to do the same. You never know who’s watching, including your kids.

How Often is Often Enough?

Washing your hands often isn’t about sticking to a schedule or the number of times you do so each day. It’s about reducing the number of germs we carry after touching or coming into contact with something that may carry an increased number of germs. This is why handwashing during key times is critical.

However, regular handwashing outside of these key times is also important. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you can also consider cleaning hands:

After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.
Before touching our eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.

Additionally, be sure to clean and disinfect household surfaces daily to reduce germs. These actions can help protect you and your family in a pandemic like COVID-19.

More Information

Build A Kit
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Steps to Prevent Illness
Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
COVID-19 and Water
Make Water Safe
Making Water Safe in an Emergency

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO ( http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html ) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

10 comments on “Effective Handwashing: Learn. Teach. Repeat.”

Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Read more about our comment policy » .

As a NICU nurse I wash my hands frequently throughout my 13hr shift. All nursing staff complete a full three-minute scrub from elbows to fingertips, at the beginning of their shift and if they leave the floor to another part of the hospital. We also teach parents and visitors how to complete a full three-minute scrub from fingertips to elbows. The NICU has two deep sinks at the entrance to the unit, along with foot pedals to turn water on and off. We use a surgical soap, that is attached to a foot pump as well, so no one is touching the handles. As simple as washing your hands throughout the day is, it is keeping up with the mindfulness that is hard for some people. We live busy lives, and we are constantly using our hands in the process. It just takes habit and reminding others around you to wash their hands.

This blog is really helpful and informative when it is relating to hand washing and sanitizing. I, myself, use to be a Surgical Technologist (Sterile Surgeon’s Assistant), so hand washing or surgical scrubbing is essential in order to prevent the spread of bacteria to the patient. Not only is it important for the patient, but as a Scrub Nurse (RN), it is important to keep ourselves safe as well. Ensuring that we wash our hands immediately after coming in contact with blood, urine, feces, mucus, or needles sticks. Washing your hand thoroughly consist of ensure you wet you hands, ensuring that you have enough soap in your hands. washing for at least 20 seconds (or singing the birthday song during the wash) and rinsing. This is the most important way to decrease the amount of viruses and/or diseases that is spread via droplet or direct/indirect contact.

It is mind blowing that it has taken a pandemic for people to realize how important hand washing or hand hygiene is. I can’t tell you how many times I have used public restrooms and physically watched woman leave without washing their hands. It literally takes 20 seconds to wash your hands with soap and water. It takes less than that to use hand sanitizer. Simple reminders like wet, lather and rinse while singing Happy Birthday are great ways to teach people about hand hygiene. One way to ensure people are practicing hand hygiene is maybe develop a buddy system. Having someone hold others accountable for washing their hands will help people become more compliant with hand hygiene.

I wasn’t aware that there was a “Hand Washing Day”, I find this to endearing given the current pandemic. We have fewer and fewer short-cuts afforded to us due to this current crisis and we have even been told that we may have to resort to using soap and water on our computer keyboards which hardly sounds practical. Now more than ever I’m glad that people are encouraged to wash their hands. Are there other safe chemicals that you might recommend to help clean surfaces in the hospital that nurses may have access to?

This blog was very informative and I really appreciate the way information was presented. I always express that education is one of the most important factors in prevention. As an RN, I educate all my patients on proper hand hygiene, but with the COVID19 pandemic, it is even more imperative that we provide education on hand hygiene. The blog gave great suggestions on how to teach toddlers about hand hygiene. If you have children or been around them, you know that almost any and everything goes into the mouth. As well as they feel a need to touch everything in sight. I especially enjoyed the recommendation for the emergency supply kit. This pandemic is new for us all, so any information that can be given to help with the prevention or spread is great news! Nurses have a responsibility as well to make sure not only to educate our patients but to also be diligent with our own hand hygiene. As healthcare professionals, we come into close contact with many people, one after another. To ensure we don’t spread germs or viruses we also MUST wash and/or sanitize our hands as often as possible.

As a Registered Nurse, I wash my hands on the regular. It seems like every minute. I was trained to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while washing your hands. Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs. As we are all facing this pandemic it is imperative that we keep up with proper handwashing techniques. It’s only a two-minute task with a little friction. It is especially important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water while scrubbing the palms, back of hands, in-between fingers, and underneath the fingernails. It’s that simple if you’re not able to use soap and water wash your hand with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 alcohol is just as effective. Love this Blog!!!

I’ve been a nurse for many years and it is my opinion that handwashing is the most basic but safest measure a person whether medical or not can do that will help prevent the spread of diseases and germs. I know sometimes it seems I just need to quickly do something for this or that patient but it is our responsibility to make sure we take the time to wash our hands before and after touching our patients. If we do something and we get things on us then we need to stop and wash our hands effectively so that we don’t spread germs to another person or take them home with us to our families. As a Chronic Care Dialysis Nurse I wash my hands a lot during the day. I will use alcohol based hand sanitizer if I’m using my computer or going between pods to use the computers for documenting but when patient care is involved I wash my hand with soap and water for at least 30 seconds and so with enough friction to kill anything that may be on them.

Your information helps me a lot.

This blog is very educational and enlightening as it provided me with some surprising information that I didn’t know such as there is a day specifically declared “Handwashing Day”. It is unfortunate that it has taken a pandemic for people to see the importance of good hand hygiene. When it comes to hand sanitizer, I see where people are using it to replace handwashing, there continues to be the need to educate that hand sanitizer does not replace washing your hands with soap and water. Handwashing is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. It takes only 20 seconds to prevent the spread of a disease that can kill you or someone you love.

It is important for the CDC to remind the public of the effectiveness of correct handwashing techniques. This post originated in May of 2020 which was in the prime of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were trying to figure out ways to prevent contracting the virus which was a great time to educate on hand hygiene. As a nurse, I learned that the first line of defense for infection prevention includes hand hygiene. It is very important to take this easy measure to prevent the spread of disease. Working in the hospital setting it is easy to spread germs going from room to room. My hospital has started a hand hygiene initiative to encourage and remind healthcare providers to clean their hands before and after stepping into a patient’s room. We have created a friendly reminder statement “all hands on deck” to remind each other to wash their hands.