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NHS Doctor Uses TikTok To Show How Germs Can Spread While Wearing Gloves In Supermarket

NHS Doctor Uses TikTok To Show How Germs Can Spread While Wearing Gloves In Supermarket

He urges people to just regularly wash their hands instead

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A doctor has used TikTok to help show why people shouldn't wear disposable gloves when they go to the supermarket during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Karan Rangarajan, an NHS surgeon, has told Brits that rubber gloves are no substitute for regular hand washing and that by using them people could be putting themselves at risk.

In the clip, he explains: "You've got your gloves, you're at the supermarket, you're touching things - there you go. Germs.

"You keep touching more things throughout same day with these same gloves, germs everywhere. You're accumulating germs.

"Your glove is now more full of germs than your hand would've been if you washed each time.

"Remember, with these same gloves you'll be touching your steering wheel, you might accidentally touch your face, transferring the germs to yourself.

Dr Karan Raj

"And then when you're changing the gloves you might actually be touching the glove itself.

"Just wash your hands, be sensible, stay safe."

Over in the US, former emergency room nurse Molly Lixey posted a similar video to her Facebook page in which she hoped to show how quickly germs can spread without hand washing.

Lixey, who now works in a doctor's office, took some green paint to show her followers how germs can quickly go from one surface to another, even if someone is wearing gloves.

In the clip she begins by saying it's fine for people to wear gloves but that they should be aware of cross-contamination.

She then puts on some gloves and imitates touching a package which has germs on it - using green paint as 'germs'.

Molly then simulates her phone ringing and scratching her nose, all the while wearing the gloves and acting as though she's 'safe'.

She then removes her gloves and picks up her phone, with her hands quickly being coated in the paint.

Molly Lixley

She finishes by urging people not to touch their faces or phones while wearing the gloves and to make sure you throw them in bin once you're done with them.

These opinions are shared by Public Health England (PHE), which has previously said it doesn't recommend gloves and masks for people outside the medical profession.

Speaking to the Independent, a spokesperson said: "PHE is not recommending the use of gloves as a protective measure against Covid-19 for the general public.

"People concerned about the transmission of infectious diseases should prioritise good personal, respiratory and hand hygiene."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also recommended regular hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand gel.

Featured Image Credit: TikTok

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus, NHS, Health