🦠 Australians’ first line of defense against Coronavirus (COVID-19) involves soap and water

Spoiler Alert: It’s handwashing. Proper handwashing.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. That splash-under-water flick won’t cut it anymore.

How to Do IT

A refresher:

• Wet your hands and scrub them with soap, taking care to get between your fingers and under your nails.
• Wash for at least 20 seconds (or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), and dry.
• Make sure you get your thumbs, too.
• The C.D.C. also recommends you avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (tough one, we know).
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which should be rubbed in for about 20 seconds, can also work, but the gel must contain at least 60 percent alcohol. (No, Tito’s Handmade Vodka doesn’t work.)

Additional Guidelines

Also, clean “high-touch” surfaces, like phones, tablets and handles. Apple recommends using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, wiping gently. “Don’t use bleach,” the company said.

To disinfect any surface, the C.D.C. recommends wearing disposable gloves and washing hands thoroughly immediately after removing the gloves. Most household disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency will work.

Try to stand away from other people, especially if they seem sick. Wave, bow or give an elbow bump, rather than shake hands. Maybe skip the kiss on the first date.