The World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the global COVID-19 threat to its highest level on Friday, stressing essential barrier measures like regular handwashing to curb virus transmission.
Epidemiologists highlight airports and train stations as high-risk hubs where thousands of travelers converge daily, creating prime opportunities for viruses to spread to new hosts.
Yet risks extend beyond these transit points.
With a true pandemic underway, minimize unnecessary contact everywhere—skip handshakes and kisses, and steer clear of high-touch surfaces like gas pumps or payment terminals.
Regular handwashing is crucial since hands introduce viruses to our respiratory tract. Studies show we touch our faces about once per minute unconsciously.
Can we truly keep hands clean? Michelle Sconce Massaquoi, PhD candidate in microbiology at the University of Oregon, shares expert guidance based on her research.
Massaquoi's interest sparked from studies revealing over 90% of people skip handwashing after coughing or sneezing, with average wash times at just six seconds.
Master these fundamentals. Option one: "Reduce bacteria, viruses, and microbes by soaping up," she explains. "Soap's chemistry boosts skin's slipperiness, flushing away contaminants."
This slashes the microbial load on your skin.
Option two: Kill germs outright with antibacterial agents. They're potent on paper but risk fostering resistance—bacteria evolve defenses, rendering them useless over time. "Stick to plain soap," advises the expert.
Follow this proven protocol:
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