WASH, WASH, WASH YOUR HANDS

摘要

YOU'VE HEARD IT a million times: In the fight against COVID-19, our best weapon is proper hand-washing. But why does it work? Hand soaps can break down the outer membranes of many pathogens, which kills bacteria and deactivates viruses like SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, soap works to trap and remove pathogens, along with oils and other debris, from the skin's surface. But soap's effects are not instantaneous, which is why experts recommend washing your hands for 20 seconds. The 20-second target isn't terribly precise, says Donald Schaffner, a researcher at Rutgers University who studies microbes and hand-washing.