Frequently Asked Questions

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 in order 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.

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

One of the best ways to prevent infection of the so-called 2019 coronavirus is to avoid being exposed to the virus and to 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.

As prescribed by WHO, 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.

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 corona virus, COVID-19, it is advised to follow hand hygiene practices frequently as advised by local government authorities.

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.

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 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.

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.