Drying hands with paper towels helps prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus

A study published April 17 found that using disposable paper towels is better than hand dryers at removing germs that remain after hand washing.

Drying hands with paper towels is more effective in preventing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 than using hand dryers.

This is the recommendation stated in a study published on April 17, which showed that using disposable paper towels is better than hand dryers in removing pathogens that remain after hand washing.

Illustration photo. (Source: Shutterstock).

In the study, experts from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the UK conducted an experiment by letting bacteriophages - a type of virus that specializes in parasitizing bacteria and is harmless to humans - stick to the hands of four volunteers.

These volunteers intentionally washed their hands roughly, before using paper towels or dryers in hospital bathrooms.

They then proceed to touch doorknobs, stair railings, telephones and stethoscopes.

Results showed that both methods reduced the number of phages on hands.

However, hand drying still caused phages to continue to adhere to all tested surfaces at 10 times higher levels than when using paper towels  .

'We believe that this result is relevant to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is spreading worldwide,' said lead researcher Ines Moura.

According to this expert, paper towels should be the preferred choice for drying hands after washing instead of dryers, thereby helping to reduce the risk of infection and spreading viruses.

Additionally, the study authors note that while the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend using disposable paper towels after handwashing, as well as using them to turn off taps, healthcare facilities in the UK are increasingly prioritizing the use of hand dryers.

Evaluating the results of the above research, Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia (UK) commented: 'It is clear that how much virus remains on people's hands after washing depends largely on how effectively they wash their hands.

If people don't wash their hands properly, others could be at risk if they stand near someone who washes their hands carelessly and dries them with a hand dryer, he said.

Professor Hunter said the study reinforced the need to wash hands properly to remove as much virus as possible before drying hands.

Contaminated hands are known to be a major route for spreading germs from one surface to another – such as doorknobs or faucets – and can cause infection when we touch our faces.

Health officials around the world have stressed the importance of washing hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of Covid-19 , which has claimed many lives and spread around the world.