DEADLY coronavirus is continuing to sweep the nation – with cases surging in the UK to 90.
And many people are now desperately finding ways they can protect themselves from Covid-19 – after Public Health England warned that widespread transmission of the bug in the UK is now “highly likely”.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates
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In particular, people have turned to using baby wipes to keep their hands clean and eliminate any germs.
Despite this, experts are now warning that the product won’t actually kill coronavirus.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that while baby wipes may make you and your family’s hands look clean, they’re not as effective as hand sanitiser or soap and hot water.
They said: “Baby wipes may make your hands look clean, but they’re not designed to remove germs from your hands. CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water when possible.”
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Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patient.info, also emphasised that baby wipes don’t contain alcohol like hand sanitiser does – which is effective at killing viruses.
She told The Sun: “Cleaning wipes may get rid of dirt but they won’t necessarily kill germs, including coronavirus.
“Baby wipes are designed to be very gentle for a baby’s delicate skin.
“That means they aren’t going to contain bleach, which we know can be helpful in killing viruses; and they aren’t going to contain alcohol, which is also effective.”
Cleaning wipes won’t necessarily kill germs
Dr Sarah Jarvis
In particular, experts are urging people to stick to soap and water, and wash your hands for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.
Happy Birthday takes about 20 seconds to sing twice and is said to be the perfect number to clean your hands to thoroughly.
Dr Jarvis also says if you want to clean surfaces, such as your office desk, to use a disinfectant spray instead of baby wipes.
She added: “It makes more sense to use a disinfectant spray, sprayed from a distance of about six to eight inches.
“The longer you leave the product in place, the better the chance of killing the virus. Leave it on for at least ten seconds, but as much as four minutes if possible.
“Then use a clean or ideally disposable cloth to wipe it off, wiping in one direction only.
“If you are using wipes (for instance, for computer keyboards which might be damaged by a spray) use an alcohol-based type.”
Dr Jarvis’ advice comes after experts warned people against making their own hand sanitiser amid the coronavirus outbreak.
What to do if you’re worried you’ve got coronavirus
The new coronavirus is continuing to sweep its way across the globe with Britain seeing more cases in people who aren’t linked to outbreaks overseas.
Symptoms of Covid-19 can include:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- difficulty breathing
In most cases, you won’t know whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus.
But if a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people, people with heart disease or people with weakened immune systems.
It is incredibly contagious and is spread through contact with anything the virus is on as well as infected breath, coughs or sneezes.
The best way to prevent catching any form of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene.
If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with others.
You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze then throw it away and wash your hands.
Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces which you may have touched is also important.
Meanwhile, leading symptom-checking provider to the NHS Doctorlink has been updated to help identify patients’ risk of having coronavirus.
Source: NHS
Similarly, Dr Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist based at Sussex University, explained that homemade sanitisers might not be up to scratch like the shop-bought gel which has more than 60 per cent alcohol.
Three new cases of coronavirus in Scotland were confirmed today – bringing the total number of positive tests in the UK to 90.
Speaking earlier today, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned a vaccine is a long way off.
He said: “I think … a year would be lucky to get this – so we will not have a vaccine available for the first wave if we have a first wave.”
HSBC were also forced to evacuate part of its UK headquarters after an employee contracted coronavirus.
They cleared out offices in Canary Wharf with the area now being deep cleaned.
