The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread impacts across the globe since it emerged two years ago, including strengthening many people’s hygiene practices. Below are some ways that COVID-19 has changed hygiene habits in Australia and around the world:
Increased Hand Washing
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that effective hand hygiene is not only an important measure for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but it also reduces the burden of healthcare-associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Many people have become more conscious of how they wash their hands and the frequency of handwashing as a result of the pandemic. As a reminder, the best way to wash your hands is to:
- Wet them with clean, running water
- Apply enough soap to cover your wet hands
- Scrub all surfaces of your hands including the back of them, between your fingers and under your fingernails for at least 20 seconds (if you need a timer you can hum the Happy Birthday song).
- Rinse your hands well
- Dry your hands with a clean cloth, single-use towel or air dry them.
It is also recommended that hands be washed:
- Before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- After touching your mask
- Before, during and after preparing food
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
- After using the toilet
- After touching animals
- After touching surfaces or objects often touched by other people (e.g. door handles, shopping carts and fuel pumps).
Better Personal Hygiene Habits
Aside from hand washing, other personal hygiene practices that have risen to reduce the spread of COVID have included more people:
- Wearing well-fitting masks
- Using alcohol-based sanitisers whilst out and about
- Bumping elbows instead of shaking hands
- Avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth
- Covering their mouth and nose with a tissue while coughing or sneezing, or their elbow if no tissue is available
- Maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from other people
- Regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces (e.g. sanitary bins, desks, doors, light switches, toilets and sinks)
A Rise in Bathroom Automation
To reduce unnecessary touching in bathrooms, in recent years automatic hand dryers, automatic toilet seats, automatic opening and closing doors, automatic sanitary bins, smart faucets with sensors and lighting with sensors have all increased in popularity.
Measures We Have Taken To Reduce The Spread Of COVID-19:
At Hygiene Concepts, we take hygiene seriously. Our staff are continuing to follow the current guidelines of the Western Australian and Federal Governments and are fully trained on all safe practices when servicing your workplace. You can read our latest COVID-19 statement here.