19 replies to this topic

[rosanna@060208]

Good Morning, 

 

There is a tweet going on that hand sanitiser will not kill off the corona virus and that virus and bacteria are different. 

 

I am aware that alcohol based hand sanitiser can kill off bacteria, virus and fungi. Is this true?

[Charles.C]

Good Morning, 

 

There is a tweet going on that hand sanitiser will not kill off the corona virus and that virus and bacteria are different. 

 

I am aware that alcohol based hand sanitiser can kill off bacteria, virus and fungi. Is this true?

 

I suggest you ask for the tweet's source.

 

IIRC the comment, in Principle, is opposite to what I have heard on the "TV". (also unreferenced)

 

Can try this perhaps -

 

https://www.theguard...avirus-covid-19

[zanorias]

Some extracts below, from (IMO) reputable sources, regarding hand washing and sanitising in relation to Covid19.

 

Centres for Disease Control & Prevention

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

https://www.cdc.gov/...prevention.html

 

World Health Organisation

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

https://www.who.int/...vice-for-public

 

UK National Health Service

wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

https://www.nhs.uk/c...virus-covid-19/

 

I think context is important to consider though and as the sources above suggest, hand washing is preferable when available. There will be many occasions when people don't have constant access to a sink with hot water and soap i.e. travelling on underground trains so hand sanitiser is useful and effective in that regard. The below CDC info makes a good point about community/clinical environements too.

 

CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. 

 

Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Why? Many studies show that hand sanitizers work well in clinical settings like hospitals, where hands come into contact with germs but generally are not heavily soiled or greasy. Some data also show that hand sanitizers may work well against certain types of germs on slightly soiled hands. However, hands may become very greasy or soiled in community settings, such as after people handle food, play sports, work in the garden, or go camping or fishing. When hands are heavily soiled or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well. Handwashing with soap and water is recommended in such circumstances.

https://www.cdc.gov/...-sanitizer.html

 

[IMRAN ALI]

Good mo

 

Good Morning, 

 

There is a tweet going on that hand sanitiser will not kill off the corona virus and that virus and bacteria are different. 

 

I am aware that alcohol based hand sanitiser can kill off bacteria, virus and fungi. Is this true?

 

Good Morning,

 

Its very much true that virus and bacteria are different. Bacteria can receive antibiotic treatment whereas viruses don't ! Viruses are usually tackled by the body immune system and if successful against virus it usually gains long lasting cure most of the times.

[IMRAN ALI]

As far as tweet in favor of hand sanitizer is concerned that it will not kill the corona virus off the surface and your hands is also logically untrue. The corona virus like any other virus is quite sensitive as to the kind of environment it can survive in i.e. Viruses can't usually survive in open air as well as against any chemical based spray or fluid like sanitizers.

Edited by IMRAN ALI, 03 March 2020 - 09:04 AM.

[zanorias]

Its very much true that virus and bacteria are different. Bacteria can receive antibiotic treatment whereas viruses don't ! Viruses are usually tackled by the body immune system and if successful against virus it usually gains long lasting cure most of the times.

 

^ Indeed, but anti-viral medications are available for some viral infections,  herpes zoster aka 'shingles' being one. Such 'treatment' would also apply for those unfortunately already infected; I think the OP is concerned about prevention of infection.

[IMRAN ALI]

As far as Corona virus Spread from human to human is concerned, it is due to the fact that virus is able to live in the moisture and normal body temperature. Corona Virus is just like any other flu virus in terms of its spread in human to human.

 

so, it can survive at any surface and cavity where the required environmental moisture is present. for example, the nasal cavity and nasal fluid or non-sanitized or unwashed hands and even normal breathing.

 

isn't it surprising!   

 

[SQFconsultant]

All I know is that Lysol spray kills CV because it said so on their label of the can that we have. That is until an authority agency orders the manufacturer to cease such a statement.

[Setanta]

All I know is that Lysol spray kills CV because it said so on their label of the can that we have. That is until an authority agency orders the manufacturer to cease such a statement.

 

Well, it kills A version of CV, whether or not it is THIS version of CV remains to be seen.

[Hoosiersmoker]

It was explained by my doctor (who had coincidentally just attended a special briefing on the subject) that the common cold virus is a corona virus and if it kills the cold virus it should kill COVID-19. In that case, good hand sanitizer will kill COVID-19 too. He also shared that most people with the virus will survive it providing they are healthy enough or old enough but not too old! Scary part is that a lot of people will get it, it will run its course, they will get better but they can infect others they come into contact with while sick, people with less healthy immune systems. One major reason the CDC, WHO and many other outlets are telling everyone to stay isolated if they are sick with basically anything even remotely resembling CIVID-19. If you have it and play it off like a normal cold or flu, you could infect a lot of people. It's anti-pandemic 101.

[Charles.C]

It was explained by my doctor (who had coincidentally just attended a special briefing on the subject) that the common cold virus is a corona virus and if it kills the cold virus it should kill COVID-19. In that case, good hand sanitizer will kill COVID-19 too. He also shared that most people with the virus will survive it providing they are healthy enough or old enough but not too old! Scary part is that a lot of people will get it, it will run its course, they will get better but they can infect others they come into contact with while sick, people with less healthy immune systems. One major reason the CDC, WHO and many other outlets are telling everyone to stay isolated if they are sick with basically anything even remotely resembling CIVID-19. If you have it and play it off like a normal cold or flu, you could infect a lot of people. It's anti-pandemic 101.

 

Hi Hoosiersmoker,

 

Some support to yr doctor from the URL in Post 2 -
 

 

Sally Bloomfield, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says that viruses are much more resistant to disinfectants than bacteria. Luckily, she says, coronavirus is an envelope virus, meaning it has a coating around it which the alcohol can attack, thereby eliminating the threat. (Norovirus and rhinovirus, by contrast, do not).

 

[mgourley]

All i can say is I am going to Ireland next week and plan to order as many Corona's as possible, if available, in the pubs I visit.

 

Marshall

[SQFconsultant]

I'll tip an ice cold Heiniken to that!!! 

[SQFconsultant]

My wife was heading out of the office today to go and pick up some stuff at the nearby Food Lion store and I casually mentioned that I'd like a couple of large bottles of gel hand sanitizer - not because of this CV thing but because as we move towards spring we are seeing an increase in bird mites in the area and that stops them dead when they fall on my head.... 

 

She whats app me about 10 minutes ago and says they are out of hand sanitizer but the pharmacy next door had 1 bottle of 91% alcohol and 2 bottles of sanitizer - she took it all! LOL

 

Amazing how the power of suggestion works!

 

Tell people to do something and it works on sheeple everytime.

[mgourley]

It's incredible what media can achieve.
So far, what I hear about this is breathless reportage about 3k worldwide that have died from this virus.

 

OK, how many people are there in the world?

What percentage is 3k of that?

 

People, get a grip.

 

Marshall

[Claire65]

Good Morning, 

 

There is a tweet going on that hand sanitiser will not kill off the corona virus and that virus and bacteria are different. 

 

I am aware that alcohol based hand sanitiser can kill off bacteria, virus and fungi. Is this true?

It depends on the alcohol percentage in the hand sanitizer and added active ingrediënts. This determines the efficacy of it's bacteria, virus and fungus killing properties. Per country there are different restrictions and limitations for this...

[TimG]

All i can say is I am going to Ireland next week and plan to order as many Corona's as possible, if available, in the pubs I visit.

 

Marshall

 

I haven't been to Ireland, but I've known enough Irish to give you this educated opinion. If you order Corona in an Irish pub instead of Guinness, Smithwick's, O'haras, etc., you might not be making it back stateside. You would be a different type of casualty of the Corona, but a casualty nonetheless.

Stay safe!

[Ryan M.]

All i can say is I am going to Ireland next week and plan to order as many Corona's as possible, if available, in the pubs I visit.

 

Marshall

 

I know it was a pun, but don't waste your money on Corona while in Ireland.  Get the Guinness draught, I swear it tastes different in Ireland than in the US.  Don't be alarmed if it tastes warm to you..most pubs serve it a bit on the warmer side.  If you do get the chance visit the Guinness brewery, worth every effort to go there.

[Ryan M.]

Nah...they are a rather peaceful people who actually enjoy the company of Americans.

 

I haven't been to Ireland, but I've known enough Irish to give you this educated opinion. If you order Corona in an Irish pub instead of Guinness, Smithwick's, O'haras, etc., you might not be making it back stateside. You would be a different type of casualty of the Corona, but a casualty nonetheless.

Stay safe!

[Non_entitie]

It's possible the initial tweet was actually splitting the semantic hair that viruses are not alive and therefore are not "killed" by sanitizer.  The term I was always instructed to use was any virucide "innactivates" or "destroys" virions.  That being said when speaking to laypeople saying that a virus is killed offers more clarity than if you say that it is innactivated which to many may indicate that they may be capable of recovery.