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Why is hand washing important?

  • Writer: The Flashlight
    The Flashlight
  • Apr 6, 2020
  • 1 min read

Amanda Rutledge, Column Editor


The Center for Disease Control (CDC) still recommends handwashing as an effective preventive measure to take against the COVID-19 virus.


Handwashing is a simple process that can easily remove germs. It is recommended that a person regularly washes their hands before, during, and after the preparation and eating of food, after using the restroom, handling garbage, sneezing, coughing, and after other activities. By reducing the number of germs present on a person’s hands, the likelihood of spreading a diarrheal or respiratory illness is greatly decreased. It also reduces the chances of spreading illness to other people.


This is because people often will touch their eyes, nose, mouth, or face in general without even noticing it. Additionally, germs are transferred from hands to tabletops, doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, light switches, and handrails among other objects. Germs can also find their way from hands into food and drinks. Regular handwashing lowers the number of germs that are transferred when this occurs.


Handwashing takes very little time; only roughly 15-20 seconds is required to effectively complete the five steps that make up the handwashing process. A person must wet the hands, lather with soap, scrub their hands, rinse them under water and then dry their hands.

If soap and water are not immediately available, hand sanitizer, if it contains 60% alcohol, is a good alternative. However, sanitizers are not a substitute for regular handwashing as hand sanitizers do not remove all types of germs.


Photo courtesy of zukunftssicherer from Pixabay

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