Hand sanitizer isn’t necessarily best defense against coronavirus, CDC says

Hand sanitizer is a good second choice when it comes to protection against the coronavirus, but it's not necessarily as effective as washing your hands, according to the CDC.

That's because hand sanitizer does not remove all types of germs. Hand-washing with soap and water removes more of them.

But local doctors say these practices shouldn't be anything new to to Central Coast residents.

"For colds, flus, coronavirus...at the end of the day, we should all be doing this all the time," Natividad Chief of Staff Chad Harris said. "Especially those with family. I have a four-year-old, so I definitely empathize.”

When it comes to hand sanitizer, shoppers should look for types with at least 60 percent alcohol. That's how strong it needs to be to help you avoid getting sick. Harris said you should use about a nickel-sized amount of it at a time.

“You want to cover all over your hands, including the back, in between, you want to rub them for about 20 seconds," Harris said. "And then you want to keep doing this until your hands are dry.”

Harris suggested that parents with young children can distract them for those 20 seconds by having them sing a song, such as "Happy Birthday."