It's one of the key prevention methods amid the coronavirus outbreak, but it seems that when it comes to washing your hands, women are much more vigilant than men.
A new survey by Insider asked 1,051 people across the US about the steps they’ve taken to prepare for a possible coronavirus outbreak.
The results revealed that 65% of women said they were ‘washing hands and keeping surfaces clean.’
However, just 52.7% of men said the same thing.
The findings should come as no surprise, based on previous research into hand washing practices.
A previous study conducted in service station toilets in the UK found that 65% of women wash their hands after using the toilet, compared to just 35% of men.
With coronavirus case numbers rising worldwide, good hygiene practices are key to slow the spread, according to Dr Babak Ashrafi, a doctor with Zava.
Speaking to Mirror Online, he explained that the best way to avoid the virus is regularly washing your hands with soap and water.
He said: “The primary advice is using soap and water to wash your hands - that’s the best way to get rid of bacteria. Hand sanitiser isn’t as good, but is better than nothing, especially if you’ve been out in public.”
However, Dr Ashrafi added that using too much hand sanitiser is never a good idea.
He explained: “Some people can get severe drying, which can lead to cracking. Cracks could potentially increase your risk of coronavirus. If you have access to soap and water that’s much better.”
