Effective Hand Hygiene

Find out how you can protect yourself

Each of us can do something to prevent the flu and other infectious diseases from spreading further. And this in a simple way:

1. Regular hand washing with soap and water is important
   80% of infectious diseases are transmitted via hands - including colds and flu and gastro-intestinal infections.
    
2. Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands
   Viruses get into the mucous membranes via our hands and thus into the body. Paying attention to this reduces the probability of infection.
    
3. Precautions when coughing and sneezing
   If you are ill, you should keep at least one meter distance from other people when coughing and sneezing and turn away. If possible, cough or sneeze in a disposable handkerchief that you can dispose of directly afterwards. Do not forget to wash your hands then.
    
4. Hand disinfection: how to protect yourself and others
   If you have a lot of contact with different people, hand disinfection can also be useful. Disinfect your hands when visiting a hospital or other care facility – when entering and leaving. This way you avoid unwanted "guest gifts" that travel unnoticed through your hands.
    

You can find further tips at hand-hygiene.info. Up-to-date information on the corona virus can be found at the Bundesministerium für Gesundheit or the World Health Organisation.