7 useless tips that do not save from the virus. Experts’ opinion

The coronavirus epidemic has completely changed our lives. People are doing everything to avoid the risk of infection, but sometimes they use tips and know-how that turn out to be useless in practice. Together with the leading expert of the Molecular Diagnostics Center of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, a partner of the SN PRO EXPO FORUM festival, we have collected 7 habitual actions that do not actually save from the virus, although it always seemed to be the other way around. Mikhail Lebedev explained why you should not do this.

Use clothes to open the door

The World Health Organization was confused about the duration of the virus on the surface of objects, but the fact that it definitely stays there for a while was not questioned.

People became rather predictably wary of touching such surfaces, especially doorknobs in entryways and at store entrances. And they started using clothing to create a protective layer between the surface and their skin. Most often it was the sleeve of a jacket or sweatshirt that was used to open the door. But you actually make things worse by doing this, because bacteria and viruses from the doorknob get first onto the sleeve, and then onto your arm, face, phone, and so on. A more effective method would be to use a napkin folded several times, which should be immediately thrown into the trash.

Mikhail: The main route of transmission of respiratory pathogens, which includes coronavirus in particular, as well as influenza and acute respiratory viruses – airborne.

There is another way – contact. It is precisely and implies the transmission of infection through handrails, door handles and so on. Therefore, such ingenious ways to avoid direct contact with surfaces are quite reasonable. At the same time, you should remember that the main thing is not to touch your face with your hands, wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible and use sanitizers to exclude the presence of any pathogen on your hands. This is much more reliable than opening doors with your sleeve.

Pressing the elevator button with your elbow

A similar situation can be applied to elevator use. The call button is pressed by all the residents of the house, usually more than a hundred people. So people try to protect themselves here too. Many people have gotten into the habit of pressing the button with their elbow or even with their knuckles.

The second option is quite senseless, and pressing the button with your elbow is also unlikely to save you, because then you put your elbows on the work or dining table, and then touch this table or any other surface with your hands. In the case of an elevator button, the same wipe will work much more effectively.

Endless use of antiseptic

Antiseptic has been hyped so much that many people are convinced that its constant use will completely protect you from the threat of infection. But in fact, antiseptic loses out to regular hand washing with soap and water. It makes sense to use it if you first wipe your hands with a damp cloth.

Antiseptic works much worse on dirty surfaces than on clean ones, so if you touch a shelf in a store or a handrail in public transportation and then pour the product on your hands, it does not guarantee protection. So if you touch your face with your hands afterward, the bacteria will still have a decent chance of getting into your body.

Michael: Sanitizers are for those situations where you can’t wash your hands with soap and water. So if you have the opportunity, it’s better to wash! You can use sanitizers, there is no harm from them, as a rule, the composition is about the same: alcohol and various additives in the form of glycerin and so on.

Wear one mask for all occasions

Masks and gloves have become a mandatory attribute of our life. In order to save money, people, of course, began to use the same mask several times, or even for weeks. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vitaly Zverev told Interfax why such use of personal protective equipment can do much more harm than good.

In two hours, the mask turns from a means of protection into a means of spreading infection: in addition to the coronavirus, we have a lot of other things in the air – bacteria, fungi, which settle on the mask and can then infect you.

Realizing that the average citizen of the country can hardly afford to change the protective accessory every two hours, the academician advises to wear masks in the subway, stores, but not on the street. “When I see masks being put on children in the street, I want to ask the question – who will treat emphysema in them after wearing this mask? Or when people ride a bicycle wearing a mask… There is no virus flying in the street. If you keep a social distance, nothing will be transmitted to you.

Mikhail: If a person is at rest, you can extend the time of wearing a mask to 3 hours. It’s the same with cloth masks – change every 2 hours. If the mask has become wet, for example, it is possible now, when it is hot outside, it is necessary to change it as it has moistened.

Treat the mask with an alcohol tincture

The use of alcohol in one form or another was also considered one of the ways of protection. But if the use of alcohol orally at once did not look particularly effective, then treating the mask with an alcohol tincture of propolis was offered as a safehack.

However, many doctors, in particular Maria Blinova, a doctor of the Vinogradov State Medical Center , explained that there is no proven bactericidal effect of propolis , and it does not protect against infection through the respiratory tract.

Mikhail: All such methods, namelyto treat a reusable mask with something, do not work at all. Not only that, they can also cause harm by irritating the respiratory tract. A reusable mask does not need to be treated with anything. The main thing is that after you have washed or steamed it with a steam generator, and dried thoroughly (ironed with an iron).

Drink hydrogen peroxide

With the use of alcohol inside, it would seem, sorted out. But soon there were tips about the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide, which, allegedly, you need to drink to protect yourself from infection. However, this is not only useless, but also very dangerous advice! It is clearly written on the means that it is made exclusively for external use. Inside it can not be used in any concentration. This can lead to great damage to health.

Hold your breath if your neighbor sneezes

You can often see the picture of a person in public transport trying to hold his breath when his neighbor on the bus starts sneezing or coughing. The same goes for the store and in general any public place. The point is that if the person sneezing or coughing is already sick, holding your breath for five seconds will not save you. Particles of saliva and phlegm will still get into your respiratory tract. In addition, germs can get not only into your nose and mouth, but also into your eyes. So unless you’re wearing goggles, you don’t even have to try. Wearing a mask and keeping a social distance will reduce the risk, but will not guarantee complete protection.