Handwashing with soap, when done correctly, is critical in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but millions of people have no ready access to a place to wash their hands, UNICEF said Monday. In total, only 3 out of 5 people worldwide have basic handwashing facilities, according to the latest data. As the pandemic continues its spread, UNICEF is reminding the public of the importance of handwashing as a key prevention measure against COVID-19 and urging renewed efforts to provide access to this most basic of public health interventions around the world. In many parts of the world, children, parents, teachers, healthcare workers and other members of the community do not have access to basic handwashing facilities at home, in healthcare facilities, schools or elsewhere. According to the latest estimates:

• Forty percent of the world’s population, or 3 billion people, do not have a handwashing facility with water and soap at home. Nearly three quarters of the people in least developed countries lack basic handwashing facilities at home.

• Forty-seven percent of schools lacked a handwashing facility with water and soap affecting 900 million school-age children. Over one third of schools worldwide and half of schools in the least developed countries have no place for children to wash their hands at all.  

As part of their coronavirus response, UNICEF is also reminding the public of the best way to wash their hands properly:

1. Wet hands with running water

2. Apply enough soap to cover wet hands

3. Scrub all surfaces of the hands – including back of hands, between fingers and under nails – for at least 20 seconds.

4. Rinse thoroughly with running water

5. Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel

Photo Credit: UNICEF