Handwashing Awareness Campaign Relaunched for World Hand Hygiene Day

Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has relaunched its handwashing awareness campaign on the occasion of World Hand Hygiene Day.

Since 2009, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day on 5 May. In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is recalled that proper hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective methods of reducing infections, including those from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Coronavirus is transmittable through the inhalation of droplets from infected individuals. These droplets can survive for some time on objects or surfaces. As such, washing hands with soap and water is essential to avoiding transmission of coronavirus and other infections. In the absence of soap and water, hands can be disinfected with an alcohol-based solution.

Luxembourg's Minister of Health Paulette Lenert stressed: "The current context of the coronavirus pandemic reminded us of the importance and interest of hand hygiene. Handwashing, which is a very simple hygiene gesture, constitutes an essential barrier against the pandemic. To protect yourself and others from coronavirus, wash your hands regularly!"

The awareness campaign also recalled that wearing gloves does not replace proper hand hygiene as the virus can be found on the gloves and can become infected if the individual touches their face afterwards. Used gloves should be discarded after use in a bin to both protect the environment and ensure the safety of the population.