Coronavirus: The World of Soaps and Sanitizers

25-05-2021 13:43:58
By : Shrishti Nagar



Wearing masks and social distance, soap and water have been an important contributors to the fight against Covid-19 during the lockdown phase. These have now become things that do not need to be remembered and the body and mind have brought them into habits. But, this habit is hardly anyone six months ago.  With the emergence of corona virus as a health emergency all over the world since February, health agencies are constantly telling people how to avoid this virus.

Experts, doctors and government officials have been repeatedly told to wash hands several times a day with lukewarm water for at least 20 seconds. Sadly, People have started forgetting to wash their hands.

In six months, a confirmed global picture of rising infection cases and lockdown has marginalized the advice to wash hands. Awareness about washing hands is gradually decreasing among the growing anger among some people against wearing masks and covering face. An Ethiopian study says that less than 1 percent of the 1,000 people who go to the hospital are people who wash their hands properly. But, was the advice changed?

Experts say this has not happened at all. Rather, they consider it twice as effective.

Thomas Gilbert, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern University in Boston, says the easiest way to eliminate the chemical makeup of the corona virus is to wash your hands with cheap soap and warm water.

He says, "These viruses contain membranes that surround genetic components called lipid members. Since they are oily, greasy structures, they can be eliminated with soap and water. Soap and water dissolve the outer shell and the genetic material that affects the human cells, which forms copies of the virus, gets swept away and destroyed. "

Gilbert says, "I have not yet heard anything like reducing the time spent washing hands."

He says, "You should wet your hands, take soap and clean your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with ease. No corner or place should remain untouched."

Gilbert says that during this time the chemical reaction between lipid members and soap is completed.

They say that it also has other benefits. The soap also works well in cleaning the material. They say that if it works with hot water and soap then it becomes more quickly.

Soap is important

Martin Michelis, Professor of Molecular Science at the University of Kent, UK, says that water alone cannot eliminate the virus. He says, "If you get oil in your hand while cooking, it is difficult to clean it with only water. You need soap. The Corona virus also needs soap in the same way. This removes the covering of the lipid over the virus and makes the virus inactive. "

The effects of hand washing have been largely eradicated by the use of hand sanitizers.

People carry a small bottle of sanitizers while going out of the house. Also, while going to shops or offices, people's hands are cleaned with sanitizers.

Thomas Gilbert says that if you stay at home all day and 20 strangers don't come to your house every day, then there is no need to wash hands.

Gilbert says, "It is not bad to keep a sanitizer bottle in your car or at the door of your house. But, these things are good only if you do not have a sink, soap and water at home. I always use soap and water than a hand sanitizer.

So how long should we still wash our hands?

At the time of the onset of the epidemic, the British government's scientific advice was that people should wash their hands every few hours. This was when most people were closed in their homes.

Gilbert says that this is not necessary for those who stay at home most of the time. However, they should definitely wash hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before and after eating.

Such people who are taking care of a Kovid-19 patient need to wash their hands more quickly.

A paper led by Mu Pham, a PhD student at the University of Utrecht, states that washing hands immediately after coming into contact with a potentially infected person or surface proves to be more effective than washing hands repeatedly.

Soap instead of anti-virus handwash

Some people have started using anti-viral handwash and think that they are more effective than normal soaps. Michaelis says, "But, it is not." He says, "You don't need such things at all. Most of the anti-microbials present in the market are actually anti-bacterial." He warns, "They can become more difficult in the coming times. If there is too much anti-bacterial in the waste water (which does not work on the virus) then you will have more chances of bacterial registration."

"All the other disinfectants you use may be more of a concern for the environment and may cause more problems with registered bacteria."

Both Gilbert and Michaelis agree that the potable quality of water used to wash hands in the fight against the corona virus is not necessary. In this case, any water you have can be used to wash hands.

In places where there is less water availability or clean water is not available easily, it is easy there.

Recently, the World Health Organization has said that only two out of every five schools in the world had adequate washing facilities before the corona virus was introduced.

"There is no problem as long as you have soap. You can swim in water that you cannot drink because your skin acts as a barrier," says Michaelis.

 


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