Deadly Weapon against Corona Virus

Dr.K.Kolanda Swamy.
MBBS, MAE, DPH, DIH, DBE,
PG in Global Health (Japan),
PG in HFW Management.
Public Health Expert in Infectious Diseases Control,
11th July, 2020
Immunisation, MCH and Disaster Management.
This presentation is for those believing in
Public Health Measures in
Controlling Infectious Diseases
What are the Public Health Measures to
Prevent Corona Virus transmission?
 Public Health Measures

• Hand Washing with Soap and Water

• Universal wearing of Face Mask
• Surface Cleaning
• Promoting natural ventilation
• Improving the innate immunity of the population
What is the most powerful and deadly
weapon against Corona virus?
Soap and Water
How Corona Virus Spreads?
 1. Airborne Transmission
• Micro droplets directly infect people within two metres
distance when breathing the air contaminated with
Corona virus by
– Sneezing, Coughing, Laughing and Talking
• Micro-particles remain in the room air for some time
• Less than 20 percent of transmission occurs in this way
(air-borne transmission)
 2. Hand-borne transmission
• Hands are contaminated by
– Droplets formed during sneezing, coughing, laughing and talking, settles on
surfaces and such surfaces get contaminated with Corona virus
– Hands of an infected person gets contaminated while sneezing/coughing
and all the surfaces touched by the infected person get contaminated
• When face, eyes, nose and mouth are touched by the
contaminated hands, the infection spreads
• More than 80 percent of transmission occurs in this way
(Hand borne transmission)
 Prevention of Transmission
1. Air borne transmission (<20 percent)
– Universal wearing of mask
– Two metres distancing
– Natural ventilation
2. Hand borne transmission (>80 percent)
– Hand wash with soap and water for 20-30 seconds
– Frequent Hand wash with soap and water by the infected person
also prevents the contamination of surfaces frequently touched
by the hands
3. Disinfection of surfaces frequently touched by hands
 How do Soaps act?
• Corona virus coat is made up of proteins and fats
• Any Soap destroys corona viruses completely
• Soap has two sided molecules
– One end of the molecule is attracted to water
– Other end of the molecules is attracted to fat
• Fat coat of the virus is literally pulled apart by soap
molecules and destroys the corona viruses
Experiment to understand how soap destroys
Corona Virus
• Take about 200 ml water in a transparent container
• Add about 50 ml of oil to water in the container
• We can see oil floating on water
• Then add soap solution and shake for 20- 30 seconds
• Now we can see oil is completely dissolved in water
• 20-30 seconds hand wash with soap completely
annihilates corona viruses
 Hand Wash with Soap and Water vs
Hand Sanitisers
Hand Wash Hand Sanitisers
Useful for Hand Hygiene in all Mostly useful in Health Care
settings Settings
Removes both dirt and germs Kills germs and does not remove
dirt
Effective in all situations Not effective on dirty hands and
hands with sweat
Absolutely safe in all aspects Highly inflammable: Should be
careful in storing and not
recommended for closed rooms
 Hand Wash with Soap and water vs
Hand Sanitisers
Hand Wash Hand Sanitisers
Low cost on long term basis Except for Health Care Settings,
costlier for common use

Running water helps in uniform Uniform spread of alcohol based

spread of water and soap hand sanitiser needs experience

20-30 seconds required for each 20 seconds for hand sanitisation

hand wash and three applications over 3-5
minutes for pre surgical hand
preparation
 Caution
• Hand Sanitisers
– are not substitutes for Hand Wash

– are not effective on Hands with dirt and sweat

– Hand sanitisers do not spread evenly

• Hand Sanitisers are effective only on clean hands

 How to wash hands?
• Wash hands as described for 20 -30 seconds in running
water with soap

• While washing, count from 1 to 30 to ensure a

minimum period of 30 seconds
 Dedicated Teams in every
establishment for setting up
of Hand Wash Facilities
everywhere
 I realise “Hand wash can prevent Corona Virus
transmission”
When I go out, where can I wash my hands?

• Enabling Environment by setting up of Hand wash Facilities

with wash basin, soap and running water in Public and
Private establishments and all places where people visit is
absolutely essential to bring in Desirable Behaviour Change
Hand Wash at State Public Health Headquarters
Before entering and leaving Hand Wash is Must
 Hand Wash facility in front of Hospitals
Hand Wash is must for all before entering and leaving
 Hand Wash at GRH Ward
Before entering and leaving the ward Hand Wash is
Must for all
 Hand Wash at a Hotel
Before entering and leaving Hand Wash is Must
 Hand Wash at Public Places
Opportunity to wash hands for passer by people
Hand Wash at District Collectorate, Madurai
Before entering and leaving Hand Wash Must
 Hand Wash at Madurai Corporation Office
Before entering and leaving Hand Wash Must
Hand Wash at a Police Station and a Govt Office
Hand Wash in front of a Temporary Market
Before entering and leaving Hand Wash is Must for all
 Where to set up Hand Wash Facilities with
wash basin, soap and water?
Home Entrance Wet Markets Bus Stations
Apartment gate Motor Vehicle Service Airport Entrances
Stations
Govt Office entrance Factories Sea port areas
Private offices Petrol Filling Stations Railway platforms
Vegetable market Departmental Stores Bus stops
Fish Market Hotel entrances Auto Stands
Weekly markets Tea shops Road Junctions
 Where to set up Hand Wash Facilities with
wash basin, soap and water?
Health Care facilities General Wards Schools
Pharmacies Visitor waiting areas Colleges
Labs Clinics University Campuses
Car Parking Cycle Parking Textile Show Rooms
Two Wheeler Parking Automobile Show Village entrance
Rooms
 Where to set up Hand Wash Facilities with
wash basin, soap and water?
Fire Stations Public Parks Vantage points in
congested Streets
Police Stations Theme Parks Swimming Pools
Security Check up Toll gates Public Toilets
points
Marriage Hall Cinema Theatres Lorry sheds
entrances
 Where to set up Hand Wash Facilities with
wash basin, soap and water?
Auditorium All kinds of Show rooms Gyms

Museums Transport Depots Municipal Ward office

Note:
The list is endless. One should use wisdom to set up Hand Wash
Facilities where 100 percent people are made to wash hands.
 Desirable Behaviour Change

• Initially for a week intensive education,

motivation and monitoring are required

• After a while it will becomes a habit

 Behaviour Change Testing Methods in
Organised Establishments like offices,
schools, factories and similar institutions
• After a weeks intensive education, motivation and monitoring
– stop water and look for response
– Take away soap and look for response

• If people try to enter without any hesitation, then repeat the

whole process again and again till behaviour change is
internalised.
 Hand Wash Situations
• After blowing nose, coughing or sneezing
• After going to toilet
• Before eating, preparing or serving food
• After eating, preparing or serving food
• After providing care for another person
• After touching any packings coming to the house
• After travel or during transit
 Hand Wash Situations
• Before entering or leaving a health facility or leaving a
health facility
• Before entering or leaving a vegetable market
• Before entering or leaving an office
• Before entering or leaving a grocery store
• Before entering or leaving an eatery
• Before entering or leaving a vehicle service centre
• Before entering or leaving any building
 Hand Wash Situations
• When some one is worried about Corona
– Wash hands with soap and water and tell loudly five times
‘I am washing hands 15 times a day: I will overcome
Corona’
• When nothing else to do at home wash hands and
sleep for a while. Good sleep will improve innate
immunity
 Protocols before entering Homes

• Leave chappals outside

• Wash feet, then hands and lastly face with
soap and water
• All bags and any other materials carried
should be properly washed or disinfected or
sun-dried.
 Surfaces frequently touched by hands
Door Handles Chair Handles Hand-rails of staircase

Switches Hand bags Elevator buttons

Door bells Shopping bags Elevator Hand-rails
Keys Vegetables and fruits Remote control
purchased devices of TV, AC etc
Tea-poys Packets of delivery boys Mobiles / Phones
Table surfaces Shopping packets Door locks in wash
rooms
Sofa surfaces Water canes Garbage baskets
 Surfaces frequently touched by hands
Seats in restaurants Shop Counters Computer mouse

Coffee cups in Cash Counters Key Pad

restaurants

ATM machines Pharmacy Counters Biometric devices

Parcel surfaces Ticket counters Waiting Area Seats
Refrigerator handle Bus/auto hand rails ATM machines

Currency notes, Coins Car door handles Bank counters

Flush out handles Steering/gear handle Swings in play areas

Hand Wash after touching the surfaces likely to
have been contaminated

Hand Wash is must.

 Murphy’s law and Hand Wash
• Where a surface or article is likely to get
contaminated, it will get contaminated at one point of
time or other point of time by some one
• The risk is there everywhere at all times
• Always Wash Hands assuming the surface or article is
contaminated
• 15- 20 times Hand Wash every day means your risk is
close to nil.
 Tell tale Evidence
• In countries with Hand Washing habits before eating,
after eating and after defaecation the transmission of
Corona Virus infection is slow.

• Whereas in countries using tissue paper and spoons

for eating the Corona virus spread with lightning
speed.
 Politeness and assertiveness together

• Will you please wash your hands with soap

and water before entering into the building?
 I am not going anywhere?
Why should I wash my hands?

Corona Virus can enter through any essential

household commodity like grocery packets,
vegetables, water canes, cylinders, bags, food
parcels, posts and so on.
Wash Hands often and Stay Safe
 Hands should be washed first or face?

• While returning home after going to work or market,

leave your chappals/shoes outside

• Wash feet first, then hands and lastly face.

• Taking a bath is a must particularly in homes with

60 plus or vulnerable people.
Before eating from a home delivery food parcel,
hands to be washed first or after opening the
packet hands to be washed?

• After opening the parcel, hands should be washed

• After disposing the parcel covers/pack, hands should be

washed
 Soap and Water

Simple Solution to the Complex

Problem!
Believe it !! Act Now!!!
My name is To-day
Wash Hands: Stop Corona

Thank You