In a matter of weeks, Coronavirus (Covid-19) has spread to 88 countries, claiming nearly 3,500 lives and infecting over 100,000 people. There are currently 164 diagnosed cases in the UK and two deaths.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, has also confirmed that a second patient in Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus.
The patient is a resident in the Cardiff local authority area and has recently returned from Northern Italy, where the virus was contracted. The patient is being treated in a clinically appropriate setting.
Supplies of antibacterial hand sanitiser continues to be in short supply.
These photos were taken in Tesco St Mellons earlier today. Many of the Tesco own-brand and Career hand gels were out of stock, with deliveries not expected until Monday 9th March right through until 15th March.
It is a similar story across other shops and supermarkets across the city.
Despite the appeared shortage, the advice being given out is that washing your hands properly is the first line of defence against the spread of Coronavirus.
How should we be washing hands?
Handwashing needs to include clean water and soap, rubbing all surfaces of the hands to create a lather (including the palms, between fingers and the backs of hands) followed by rinsing. Hands must also be dried using either disposable kitchen paper, a clean hand towel or a hand dryer.
Handwashing removes bacteria from hands to help prevent the spread of infections. Therefore it is essential to wash hands on occasions when hands may be contaminated such as:
- Before, during, and after preparing food, particularly after handing raw meat and poultry
- After using the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal
We should spend 20-30 seconds washing and drying our hands:
- Wet your hands with clean water
- Use soap
- Rub palm to palm
- Back of hands
- Fingers interlaced
- Rub fingernails
- Base of thumbs
- Rub wrists
- Rinse hands
- Dry hands using a clean towel or kitchen paper
