COVID-19: Why Is Hand Drying Equally Important As Handwashing?

Hand drying is an important step that should be followed after handwashing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While handwashing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer effectively removes and kills germs on your hands, proper hand drying helps to further reduce the risk of contamination and transmission of pathogens. Here are a few reasons why hand drying is equally important as handwashing:

1. Removing residual moisture: Wet hands are more likely to spread bacteria and viruses than dry hands. Studies have shown that the presence of moisture on the hands can promote the survival and transfer of pathogens. By thoroughly drying your hands, you can remove any remaining moisture that could harbor germs.

2. Preventing recontamination: Touching surfaces with wet hands can lead to recontamination. If you touch a contaminated surface after washing your hands but before drying them, the pathogens may transfer back onto your hands. Drying your hands reduces the chances of picking up new germs from surfaces you touch after washing.

3. Promoting good hand hygiene: Hand drying encourages adherence to proper hand hygiene practices. When people neglect the hand drying step, they may resort to wiping their hands on their clothes or using unclean towels, which can introduce additional bacteria or dirt. By emphasizing the importance of hand drying, individuals are more likely to follow the complete hand hygiene process.

4. Reducing the survival of pathogens: Studies have found that the survival and transfer of pathogens are generally reduced on dry hands compared to wet hands. Bacteria and viruses require moisture to thrive, and drying hands can disrupt their viability. Proper hand drying contributes to the overall reduction of pathogens on the skin's surface.

To effectively dry your hands, you can use clean towels, paper towels, or electric hand dryers. If using a towel, make sure it is regularly washed and dried to maintain its cleanliness. If using a hand dryer, ensure that it is well-maintained and working properly. Proper hand drying, combined with thorough handwashing or hand sanitizing, enhances your efforts to maintain good hand hygiene and reduce the risk of infection, including COVID-19.