KUALA LUMPUR: United Kingdom based Malaysian surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri has refuted a so-called claim that hand sanitisers are pointless; advising the public to constantly wash their hands and use alcohol-based sanitisers during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr Amalina, responding to a tweet that went viral suggesting that hand sanitisers only work against bacteria and not viruses like the Covid-19, said, practicing good hygiene would include keeping one's hands clean with hand sanitisers that had at least 60 per cent alcohol-based solution.
“This info about Covid-19 has been circulating around on social media. This is a wrong advice. Alcohol-based sanitisers that contain 60 to 95 per cent alcohol are effective to clean your hands.
“Yes, washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is better especially if your hands are visibly dirty. But, using hand sanitiser is better than not washing your hands at all.
“Please remember that hand sanitiser should not be a replacement to washing your hands but only use it if you can’t wash your hands. Whatever it is, remember to wash your hands regularly guys!” the tweet said.
Dr Amalina then explained that Coronavirus is an enveloped virus (with fatty and oil outer membrane).
“Alcohol-based sanitiser and soap/detergent can cause disruption on the envelope of the virus. Without this envelope, the virus cannot live and invade our cells. That’s why using the sanitiser and washing hands with soap works.”
Dr Amalina included a screenshot by a user, @Jasminjoestar who claimed to be a scientist stating that hand sanitisers would not effectively kill viruses as it is antibacterial.
“A bacteria and a virus are not the same. Wash your hands. Sanitisers will do nothing for the coronavirus. Sincerely, a scientist that is tired of this,” it read.
The account has since deleted its tweet, stating the main reason for the tweet was to promote good hygiene through washing hands.