COVID-19: How soap annihilates a virus

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COVID-19: How soap annihilates a virus

Soap can destroy coronavirus from your hands before it can lead to infection

Published: March 25, 2020 15:16 Last updated: April 20, 2020 07:55 Christian Borbon, Digital Content Producer

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200325 destroy virus 1 — NUCLEIC ACID: Viruses are a package of nucleic acid bundled inside a collection of lipids and proteins which can include a fat-based viral envelope -- soap can destroy a virus from your hands before it can lead to infection. Image Credit: AFP

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200325 new sturdies — 23X PER HOUR: New studies indicate we touch our face far more frequently than we wash our hands. One study published by the American Journal of Infection Control recorded 26 subjects who on average touched their faces 23 times per hour. Of all face touches, 10 (44%) involved contact with a mucous membrane -- eyes, nose or mouth -- infection points of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Image Credit: Seyyed Llata/Gulf News | Graphic News

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200325 soap — SOAP TO THE RESCUE: Now, virus-busting soap comes to the rescue. The Babylonians were the first to master the art of soap making around 2,800 BCE. The basic recipe hasn’t changed for more than 4,800 years -- mix fat or oil with an alkali such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). Image Credit: Shutterstock

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200325 soap ends — SOAP MOLECULE: The ends of a soap molecule hold two electrical charges like a battery — positive and negative. Image Credit: Seyyed Llata/Gulf News | Graphic News

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200325 virus — VIRUS GENOME: The virus genome, stored in their nucleic acid, is covered by a protective envelope and the spire-shaped protein probes. Image Credit: Graphic News

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200325 polar heads — BINDING: The positive hydrophilic polar head binds with water and the other end, the hydrophobic tail binds with grease and fatty acids, also known as lipids. Image Credit: Seyyed Llata/Gulf News | Graphic News

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200325 virus destroyer — SOAP BREAKS DOWN ENVELOPE: The lipid envelope of a coronavirus is readily broken down by soap. Image Credit: Seyyed Llata/Gulf News | Graphic News

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200325 handwash — HAND WASH DESTROYS VIRUS: A thorough hand wash with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, actually destroys the virus. Image Credit: Supplied

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200325 saniteizer — HAND SANITISER: If access to soap and water is restricted and then a vigorous hand-clean with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with an alcohol concentration of at least 60% will also destroy the virus. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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