Health bosses are reminding Harborough residents to maintain good hygiene and wash your hands as society opens up again after lockdown

NHS chiefs across Leicestershire are giving World Hand Hygiene Day on Wednesday (May 5) the thumbs-up.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups (LLR CCGs) are backing the special action day as they remind people that washing your hands saves lives.

“Since the Covid outbreak we have all been advised that washing hands effectively and regularly is one of the best ways of controlling the spread of germs.

“Now that society is opening up again it is particularly important to practice good hand hygiene.

“That’s especially so if you work in a shop, pub, cafe or any other customer-facing business - or if you work alongside other colleagues. “Make clean hands your habit, it protects us all,” said Chris West, deputy director of nursing, quality and performance for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland CCGs.

“With more restrictions due to be lifted in June, we should all be mindful of the correct way to wash hands.

“It sounds so basic - yet all too often people do not take the time to do it thoroughly.

“Whether you are washing your hands or using hand gel, doing it the right way removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects.”

You should wash your hands:

- after using the toilet or changing a nappy

- before and after handling raw foods like meat and vegetables

- before eating or handling food

- after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing (throw away the tissue and wash your hands immediately)

- before and after treating a cut or wound

- after touching animals, including pets, their food and after cleaning their cages.

See the proper handwashing and hand rubbing techniques here: https://www.who.int/multi-media/details/how-to-handwash-and-handrub