New research has found that a moderate frequency of handwashing could lower the risk of picking up a seasonal coronavirus infection.
New UK research has found that washing hands six to ten times a day could lower the risk of seasonal coronavirus infections such as the common cold, a finding which supports the current guidelines recommending handwashing during the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent transmission of the infection.
At the start of the study, the subjects were asked to provide estimates of how often they had washed their hands the day before, ranging from less than five times , six to ten times or more than ten times .The findings showed that handwashing six to ten times a day was linked with a 36% lower risk of contracting seasonal coronavirus, compared to those who washed their hands zero to five times per day.
The researchers say that the study, which has been published in Wellcome Open Research and has not yet been peer-reviewed, meaning it has not been verified by other experts, provides the first empirical evidence that regular handwashing can reduce an individual’s risk of catching seasonal coronavirus infection.
“Given that Covid-19 appears to demonstrate similar transmission mechanisms to seasonal coronaviruses, these findings support clear public health messaging around the protective effects of handwashing during the pandemic,” commented first author of the study, Sarah Beale, PhD.
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