Many still not washing hands despite coronavirus advice

Recent research has indicated that one in every 20 people are not washing their hands, even as the country continues to struggle in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

A survey conducted last month by McCabes Pharmacy discovered that while a quarter of people opted for the most effective method of washing — with soap, water and hand sanitiser — 5.2 per cent admitted to simply not washing their hands at all.  

This is despite medical advice stating that hand washing is the single most important action people can take to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The survey found that the most common method of hand washing, used by more than 60 per cent of those who responded, involved soap and water.

A corresponding survey from McCabes considered the circumstances that would prompt people to wash their hands during the current health crisis. It found that 40 per cent of people were not washing their hands after coughing or sneezing, while more than half left their hands unwashed after shaking hands (53.8 per cent), touching door handles (57.1 per cent) or using shared items (56.7 per cent).