How to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus

If you’re in a situation where you need to wash your hands but aren’t able to get to a sink—such as after using public transit—an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol is your next best option. 

With flu still circulating widely in many states, cleaning your hands after being in crowded spaces or after touching surfaces in public areas makes sense, Goodman says, and “hand sanitizer is a good, portable way to meet that need.” 

Along with washing or cleaning your hands, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

“Sometimes you can arbitrarily pick up germs in between hand hygiene cleaning, so it’s key to try to keep your hands away from your face and eyes,” says Connie Steed, M.S.N., R.N., president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). That’s how viruses can get from your hands into your system, making you sick.