Key Times to Wash Hands
You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you should also wash hands:
• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.
• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.
Regular handwashing is advised especially when you are caring for sick people in your household who might be infected with COVID-19 virus, and if you yourself is sick with the virus and is on home quarantine.
Proper handwashing gets rid of any virus and bacteria that can potentially cause sickness.
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
