ARE HAND DRYERS EFFECTIVE IN KILLING THE COVID-19 VIRUS?

FALSE: HAND DRYERS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN KILLING THE COVID-19 VIRUS

Hand dryers are not effective in killing the COVID-19 virus. To protect yourself, frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
Some media outlets report that there have been rumors that a 30-second blast from a hand drier can kill corona virus. Other reports refer to a (now removed) video that apparently circulated on social media, in which using hot air dryers to blast hot air into the mouth and nose is recommended to kill the virus.
Various sources have reported claims that blasts of hot air from hand dryers could kill the corona virus. One video (now removed) even suggested directing this hot air up the nose. However, there is no scientific evidence behind this claim, which has been debunked by the World Health Organization.
As well as making sure that you wash your hands well, it is important to ensure your hands are dry after washing them. Wet hands transmit bacteria and viruses more efficiently than dry hands. Research shows that paper towels may be better at drying hands hygienically than warm air dryers, partly because they dry hands more quickly. People tend not to use warm air hand dryers for long enough to dry hands completely.
The best way to ensure you remove the corona virus that causes COVID-19 from your hands is to wash them for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and to dry them thoroughly.
There is no science behind the claim. If the virus has already entered the body through the mouth or nose, hot air will not help kill the virus or fight the infection. If the hot air dryer had become contaminated with the corona virus by other users, then using them to blow air directly into the nose or mouth could even increase the possibility of infection.
Just blasting your hands with a hot air dryer without washing them is also not going to be enough to kill the corona virus.
Studies of hot air dryers have focused on how effective they are at drying hands, and whether they are more or less hygienic than paper or cloth towels. There have been some concerns that hot air dryers or jet air dryers could spread germs such as bacteria, by spraying the surrounding area with fine droplets of water.
One review of 12 studies found that their results have varied. However, the researchers concluded that paper towels dry hands quickly, remove bacteria effectively and do not contaminate the surrounding area. They suggest that disposable paper towels are a better choice for healthcare settings where hygiene is of most importance.
The WHO says: “Hand dryers are not effective in killing the [novel corona virus]. To protect yourself against the new corona virus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly using paper towels or a warm air dryer.”

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