Half of India’s 28 states and nine union territories have confirmed over 100 cases of Coronavirus infection as of 16 March 2020. People have been advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take precautions which include:
- Frequently washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
- Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when it is not possible to wash their hands.
- Avoiding touching their face, especially the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Avoiding crowded places.
- Staying away from sick people.
- Wearing a mask if they have flu-like symptoms.
- Self-quarantining is also recommended for people who fear they may have been infected by the new SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is because the virus - SARS-CoV-2 - has a thin outer layer of lipids (fats) and proteins which are easily destroyed when you wash your hands for 20 seconds (remember to clean in-between the fingers and under the nails, too!).
But if you do not have soap and water near you, all you need is a bottle of hand sanitizer. To kill the new Coronavirus, your hand sanitizer should have at least 60% alcohol. The health ministry on 13 March passed the Essential Commodities Order 2020 to ensure the quality of hand sanitizers in the market. If, however, you are unsure about the quantity of alcohol in locally available hand sanitizers, you can make your own at home. Read on to know how to do this: