HONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Physical barriers, such as regular handwashing and wearing masks, gloves and gowns, may be more effective than drugs to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as influenza and SARS, a study has found. (Link)

Washing yours hands after cooking or using the restroom is such a simple thing to do. It is surprising to see the number of people who do not bother washing their hands at all during the day. Some people think that running their hands under cold water for two seconds constitutes “washed hands”. However, warm water will do better. Soap helps, but the warm water is what kills the majority of the germs.

The 51 studies compared any intervention to prevent animal-to-human or human-to-human transmission of respiratory viruses, such as isolation, quarantine, social distancing, barriers, personal protection and hygiene, to doing nothing or to other types of intervention. They excluded vaccines and antiviral drugs.

They found that handwashing and wearing masks, gloves and gowns were effective individually in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses, and were even more effective when combined

Now everyone has another reason to wash their hands throughout the day.

Justin

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