Does Hand Sanitizer Really Work Against Coronavirus?
The hand sanitizer was bad enough that the two shops I visited this weekend were completely cleaned out. A tweet is also circulated stating that you shouldn’t worry about it and mistakenly claiming that it does not kill viruses. So let’s be clear – yes, hand sanitizer can kill the coronavirus. But everything will be fine without him.
How does hand sanitizer work?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer destroys the outer layer of many, but not all, germs. It is not very effective against bacterial spores or viruses that have no outer envelope, but it is effective against most everything else.
Coronaviruses do have an envelope, so this is good news.
Are hand sanitizers included in the coronavirus prevention guidelines?
Yes it is. The CDC, for example, includes this recommendation on its COVID-19 protection page :
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty.
Not all hand sanitizers contain alcohol, so be sure to check the label.
Is hand washing better than using hand sanitizer?
Yes, but hand sanitizer is a good stopover if you can’t get to the sink or if your hands are visibly dirty.
Mucus, dirt, or other substances on your hands can actually protect microorganisms from being destroyed by alcohol . Therefore, if your hands are not clean, it is important to wash them.
When you wash your hands, any soap will do (it doesn’t have to be antibacterial), and you will need to wash your hands for 20 seconds or chant “Happy Birthday” about twice.