Coronavirus: news from our partners – World Hand Hygiene Day – a reminder to wash your hands

News from our partners – local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin

The importance of hand-washing during the coronavirus pandemic is being highlighted by health bosses at local CCGs as part of World Hand Hygiene Day (Tuesday 5 May 2020), which is a global initiative to bring people together to improve hand hygiene around the world.

Regular and effective hand hygiene is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others from infection during the coronavirus pandemic. Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them from spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses. It can help stop people from picking up infections and spreading them to others.

Dr Julian Povey, Chair of Shropshire CCG and local GP, said:

“World Hand Hygiene Day is a great reminder to us all – whether we work in healthcare or are at home during the lockdown – to keep washing our hands regularly. If we don’t wash our hands, we could be responsible for spreading coronavirus.”

Dr Jo Leahy, Chair of NHS Telford and Wrekin CCG and local GP added:

“It is vital that we all remember to keep washing our hands and to do so for at least 20 seconds – about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday To You twice. Use soap and water or a hand sanitizer as soon as you get home or into work, also after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing, and eating or handling food. Simply remembering to do this will help to stop the spread of infection, save lives and protect the NHS.”

To find out more about the best way to wash your hands, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

Keep informed and sign up to our daily Coronavirus email updates

Shropshire Council wants to keep you as up to date and informed as possible. To help us do this, we have developed a coronavirus update that will be sent daily at 8pm via email to anyone who has signed up to our e-bulletins.

This update includes the day’s key Shropshire Council news, and some key news from our partners, relating to coronavirus-linked issues.  Please click here to sign up for the updates.

Please do encourage your family and friends to sign up to the updates too. This will help us keep everyone up to date with the rapidly-evolving crisis.