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Use hand sanitizer periodically throughout the day. Rinse your hands if they are visibly dirty. Clean your hands with soap in most cases.
Certain activities or settings can pose more of a risk for the spread of infections or illnesses if you have come into contact with animals, people, or food. Consider what you have been touching and who you have been in contact with. Using sanitizer periodically during the day can help reduce the chance of getting sick. Inspect both sides of your hands and fingers to see if there is any debris on them. See if there is any buildup caught underneath your fingernails. Look for any open wounds, cuts, or scrapes. Hand sanitizer is most effective when applied to clean hands.  Due to its alcohol content, hand sanitizer may irritate the wounds. This pain can be uncomfortable, but it is only temporary. The most effective way to remove or deactivate germs is to clean your hands with clean running water and soap. However, many times it is not possible to locate a bathroom or sink immediately. In this case, hand sanitizer is meant to be used as a convenient alternative to help reduce the spread of germs and potential chance of illness.  Hand sanitizers may not remove or deactivate harmful chemicals. If you have been exposed to any chemicals or pesticides, you should wash the exposed area with soap and water and consult with a doctor if necessary.  Washing your hands with soap is the most effective way to kill COVID-19, which causes the novel coronavirus, since you break down the germs.