Despite Pandemic, People Failing to Wash Hands

Despite constant reminders of the need to practice good hygiene during a global pandemic, roughly 12 per cent of adults don’t wash their hands after using a public or private restroom, according to UK research.

Research company OnePoll, along with hygiene safety products and services provider Citron Hygiene, surveyed 2,000 British adults on their hand hygiene habits before and during COVID-19.

Encouragingly, the majority of adults (78 per cent) are washing their hands more frequently and for longer. On average, respondents spend 19 seconds washing their hands eight times a day – this is up from 12 seconds per wash and five times a day pre-COVID.

Additionally, 85 per cent said they always wash their hands after sneezing, and 83 per cent do so after coughing – a major increase. Before the pandemic, those numbers were 30 per cent and 45 per cent.

Key findings

• 40 per cent of the respondents wash their hands after using a smartphone – up from 20 per cent before the pandemic.
• Half are using hand sanitizer more often.
• 20 per cent wash their hands more for personal hygiene reasons, 13 per cent do so out of fear of contracting COVID-19 and only 5 per cent do it to protect others.

Citron Hygiene VP Robert Guice said it was everyone’s responsibility to stay hygienic, but that it was sad to see that many are not doing this.

“Despite habits shifting, there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially as restrictions ease and we are given more freedom.”

The CDC recommends washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

When soap and water are not readily available, a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol is required to limit transmission of the virus.