NHS coronavirus hand washing: the government approved technique explained - plus the best 20 second songs to sing

The NHS and the government are using a renewed public information campaign to urge people to adopt a more thorough approach to washing their hands in an attempt to halt the spread of COVID-19

Washing your hands properly is a key factor to help stop the spread of coronavirus – this is what you need to know about proper hand washing techniques, as advised by the NHS.

Proper hand washing

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We all have a role to play in spotting this disease and that’s what this expanded campaign is all about - making sure the public knows exactly what they should be doing to keep themselves and others safe.

This is what you need to know about the best way to wash your hands (Photo: Shutterstock)

“Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do.”

The poster from the government explains that you should use soap and water or hand sanitiser when you:

Get home or into work Blow your nose, sneeze or cough Eat or handle food

The NHS says that you should wash your hands with soap and water often, for a period of at least 20 seconds.

These are the symptoms you need to know about (Photo:WHO)

Start by applying enough soap to cover your hands, rub them together and remember to scrub the backs of your hands and in between your fingers on either hand.

The NHS says that for non-automated taps, you should use a disposable towel to turn off the tap to stop it running, instead of using your freshly cleaned hands.

Hand washing songs

To ensure you wash your hands for a full 20 seconds, the NHS advises singing Happy Birthday twice in your head (or out loud if you prefer), which takes roughly 20 seconds.

Or if you’re not keen on Happy Birthday, journalist Jen Monnier compiled a thread on Twitter of other songs with choruses that last 20 seconds. These include:

Jolene by Dolly Parton Africa by Toto Truth Hurts by Lizzo Landslide by Fleetwood Mac Raspberry Beret by Prince

For keeping kids entertained whilst washing their hands, there are a variety of songs you can choose to sing along with them, such as:

Mary had a little lamb If you’re happy and you know it Row, row, row your boat The alphabet song

Paper towels versus hand dryers

When it comes to using a hand dryer or paper towels, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that hand dryers are not effective at killing the new coronavirus.

“Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV,” WHO states in their Myth Busters advice for the public report.

The NHS advises drying your hands thoroughly using paper towels after washing your hands.

Does hand sanitiser work?

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that, in the case that soap and water are not readily available, you can use hand sanitiser instead.

Make sure the hand sanitiser is at least 60 percent alcohol.