Hygiene

If there is anything positive to come out of this disastrous worldwide pandemic it is the potential for human beings to change. Change their travel behaviour. Change their attitudes to the environment. Change their attitude towards each other. Change their attitude towards people working in all types of job. Change their hygiene habits.

This virus can be defeated, largely, by the responsible behaviour of people.

For many years there has been a huge food hygiene campaign, especially within the hospitality industry. But what about a public hygiene campaign, urging people to do the correct thing and educating them about the benefits for them and the wider society?

Since this began in the UK, some 3 weeks ago I have been doing the following:

Wash my hands: When I get up
After I have been to the toilet
Before I have breakfast
After I have breakfast
Before I go out
After I come back in
Before dinner
After dinner
Before and after I have been to the toilet
Before I go to bed

I always cover my mouth when I cough and I always wash my hands after sneezing and do the right thing. But how many others do the right thing as a rule?

There must, following this outbreak, be a massive nationwide public hygiene campaign in print, by letter and on television, radio and the internet using the social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.

Also, public venues such as restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs and theatres absolutely must make hand washing and sanitising facilities easily available to their customers and staff.

It is time we all realised that our actions have consequences, how small or large does not matter, every action has a reaction and your personal hygiene could be responsible for others getting sick.

And, the major powers of the world must put pressure on other nations to up their game when it comes to food hygiene and personal hygiene, reducing the possibility of the spread of disease around the world.

Never has there been a more important time to do this.