Increased habit of washing hands during the Covid pandemic

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After more than a hundred years after the 1918 Spanish flu passed, the habit of washing hands has again become a big concern in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Indonesia, the habit of washing hands is also being intensified everywhere through various media.

Every time we enter buildings, places to eat, and other public spaces, we are required to wash our hands or spray hand sanitizer first. Hand washing places are also provided in many public spaces and public facilities to enforce this practice.

Like this change in habit taking place during an eight month pandemic? Will hand washing become our new habit even though the pandemic is over?

Hand washing habits have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

The habit of washing hands in the United States has reportedly changed a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted the study using public survey data.

An online survey of US adults taken in June 2020. The result was that about 75% of survey participants stated that they always remember the obligation to wash their hands before doing various activities.

The survey content asked participants about situations when they usually remember to wash their hands, such as after using the bathroom at home; after using the bathroom in a public place; after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose; before eating at home; before eating in a restaurant; and before preparing meals at home.

The habit of washing hands is one of the most important steps in efforts to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Two other habits that are most important in preventing transmission of this virus are keeping your distance and wearing a mask. The three of them cannot replace each other's roles.

In 2019 or before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 63% said they wash their hands before eating at home, 55% said they wash their hands before eating at a restaurant, and 53% said they wash their hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose.

During the pandemic, more people reported washing their hands in these situations. About 74% of participants said they remember to wash their hands before eating at home, 70% remember to wash their hands before eating at a restaurant, and 71% remember to wash their hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.

However, the number of increasing awareness in hand washing is still considered insufficient and should be better. This is because 1 in 4 survey participants forgot to wash their hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.

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Handwashing habits based on groups

The CDC also divides the survey categories by sex. Both men and women reported experiencing improvements in remembering to wash their hands.

If grouped by age group, the percentage of young people (aged 18-24 years). In 2020 it is reported that you are remembering to wash your hands after experiencing respiratory symptoms compared to 2019.

Meanwhile, the percentage of adults over 25 years of age reported remembering to wash their hands before eating at home and in restaurants and after experiencing respiratory symptoms in 2020 compared to 2019.

Researchers noted that older women were more likely to have increased awareness of hand washing than men and young people.

Washing your hands with soap is effective in killing COVID-19?

Washing hands with soap is a precaution that is more intensified than the use of drugs.

In 2007, long before the COVID-19 pandemic, British Journal of Medicine (British Medical Journal), published research on the importance of washing hands with soap regularly, using masks, and personal protection including gloves can be more effective in preventing the spread of viruses such as ARI and SARS.

The virus that sticks to the hands can infect the body when the contaminated hand touches the face. Therefore, washing hands is an important preventive measure. According to the Data and Information Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, washing hands using soap is the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. But its like soap What ?

The incessant socialization of hand washing has resulted in many soap advertisements labeled as virus killer. In fact, even without that label, all types of soap can kill germs and viruses that stick to the hands. Provided, hand washing is done using soap for 20 seconds and rinsing it under running water.

How about your hand washing habit?