Coronavirus FAQs

1. What is the 2019 novel coronavirus/COVID-19?  

For information on the coronavirus, please visit the World Health Organization website: 

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

 

2. What is a novel coronavirus?

For information on the coronavirus, please visit the World Health Organization website: 

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses  

 

3. What is the source of 2019-nCoV/COVID-19?

Public health officials and partners are working hard to identify the source of COVID-19. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Analysis of the genetic tree of this virus is ongoing to know the specific source of the virus. More information about the source and spread of COVID-19 is available on the 2019-nCoV Situation Summary: Source and Spread of the Virus.

 

4. How does the virus spread?

This virus probably originally emerged from an animal source but now seems to be spreading from person-to-person. It is important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses here

 

5. What are the symptoms and complications that 2019-nCoV/COVID-19 can cause?

Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Read about COVID-19 symptoms here.

 

6. How can I help protect myself?

Currently, no vaccine exists that can prevent a coronavirus infection (such as COVID-19) in someone who has been exposed to it. The most effective way of staying safe from the infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus entirely. Based on the behaviour of respiratory viruses in general, the WHO has outlined everyday activities to steer clear of an infection:

• Clean hands with antibacterial soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
• Thoroughly cook meat and eggs
• No unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals

About Soap

 

7. How does soap prevent the Coronavirus from spreading?  

One of the best ways to prevent infection of the 2019 coronavirus is to avoid being exposed to the virus and stop it from entering your body. Some of the easiest ways to become infected by a virus is to transfer it from your hands to your mouth, nose or eyes. Washing your hands using soap or water has a dual effect, it primarily washes the virus away from your body. It also disrupts the virus so it cannot bind and infect your cells. Human coronaviruses, including the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) belong to the family of enveloped viruses. The “envelop” is like a jacket made up of lipids and proteins and protects the virus from the environment and helps it to enter human cells such as lung cells. Soaps, detergents and alcohol-based hand sanitizers strip these types of viruses of this jacket by dissolving the lipids and proteins and inactivates the virus. Frequent hand washing is also a good way to prevent other germs and infections from entering your body, from the flu to the common cold.

 

8. How does a soap and alcohol-based sanitizer work on the 2019 coronavirus?

Human coronaviruses, including the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) belong to the family of enveloped viruses. The “envelop” is like a jacket made up of lipids and proteins and protects the virus from the environment and helps it to enter human cells such as lung cells. Soaps, detergents and alcohol-based hand sanitizers disrupt the envelop resulting in the inactivation of these types of viruses.

 

9. How does Lifebuoy Soap and alcohol-based sanitizer work against the COVID-19 virus?

As prescribed by WHO, the use of soap and alcohol-based sanitizers is an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by hand transmission. Coronaviruses, including the novel strain COVID-19 are enveloped viruses. Lifebuoy soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers will be effective against enveloped viruses by inactivating the envelop of the virus and making it non-infectious.

 

10. How does Lifebuoy Soap and alcohol-based sanitizer work against the COVID-19 virus?  

As prescribed by WHO, the use of soap and alcohol-based sanitizers is an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by hand transmission. Coronaviruses, including the novel strain COVID-19 are enveloped viruses. Lifebuoy soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be effective against enveloped viruses by inactivating the envelop of the virus and making it non-infectious.

 

11. Does water work just as well as soap?

Washing your hands with water is a good way of removing dirt and is better than not washing them at all. However, the surfactants in soap can remove inactivate germs in addition to better removal of dirt than washing your hands with water alone. What is most important is that you wash your hands after using the bathroom and before you eat. The time you take and the technique you use to wash your hands is also important.

In the event of an infection outbreak like the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, it is advised to follow 

hand hygiene

 practices frequently as advised by local government authorities.

 

 

12. Do bar soaps work as well as antibacterial liquid hand washes?

Yes. Bar soaps are just as effective as liquid soaps in removing dirt, and germs and keeping your hands clean. What is most important is that you wash your hands after using the bathroom and before you eat.

In the event of an infection outbreak like the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, it is advised to follow hand hygiene practices frequently as advised by local government authorities.

 

13. Should we be washing our faces and bodies as often as we wash our hands?

Personal hygiene is important for everyone, and that includes washing our faces and bodies to ensure we are clean, smell nice and remove daily dirt, grime and germs. Because our hands come into more contact with surfaces and objects that could potentially carry germs and viruses, such as the 2019 coronavirus, they are the most important parts of our bodies to keep clean. However, as we often touch our faces, we should all ensure that we clean our faces at least twice per day.

 

14. Are germs and viruses the same thing?

Germs are essentially the umbrella word for nasty things that could make us ill. Germs include bacteria and viruses that can cause infections. Germs can be found in the air, our bodies, on food, plants, animals, surfaces and just about anything we could come into contact with.

 

15. How does Lifebuoy soap differ from other soaps?

Lifebuoy comes in a unique range of formats and variants that allows you to select the ones that are best suited to you and your family. Lifebuoy has over 125 years of research and heritage in personal health and hygiene. Lifebuoy started with William Lever's goal to stop cholera in Victorian England. Over the past century, we've evolved into one of the world's leading germ protection soaps, and we are sold in over 60 countries. In fact, since 2010, we have reached 1 billion people through our global handwashing programmes and TV advertising in order to improve people’s health and hygiene. As prescribed by the WHO, the use of soap and alcohol-based sanitizers is an effective way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by hand transmission. Coronaviruses, including the novel 2019 strain (COVID-19) are enveloped viruses. Lifebuoy soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective against enveloped viruses by inactivating the envelop of the virus and making it non-infectious.

 

16. Do hand sanitizers work as effectively as soap?

Washing your hands with soap and water is a great choice for cleaning your hands and removing dirt and germs. However, if soap and water is not available, then the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is recommended by health authorities. But it is important to use the correct hand sanitizer – one that contains alcohol. Not all hand sanitizers are the same.

 

17. Are beauty soaps as effective as other soaps in terms of protecting against the coronavirus?

Because the 2019 coronavirus, COVID-19, is a new strain, scientific information is still evolving. It is confirmed that the recent cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, was caused by a novel coronavirus. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, which means that soaps act on the surface of the virus and inactivate it to make it non-infectious.

 

18. How often should people wash their hands?

People should wash their hands after using the bathroom as well as before eating. It is important to remember to wash our hands before having a snack as well as a main meal. It is also worth washing your hands after coming into contact with potentially ill people and places where germs could easily spread, such as at hospitals or on public transport.

 

19. What should people do beyond washing their hands to protect themselves from the 2019 coronavirus?  

Avoiding the virus is the most important thing you can do. Having a clean home and avoiding people who seem ill, including your friends and family, is important in reducing your chances of catching the virus. If you are ill yourself, you should always use a tissue or face mask to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing and you should stay at home as well. Lastly, it is important to say away from raw meat and live wild animals if you can.

The World Health Organization is advising people to do what they can to avoid the 2019 coronavirus, and that includes washing our hands throughout the day. Until the world can find a cure, we must do all that we can to follow the advice of the experts.

Stay clean and stay safe.