There are many items that have sold out in stores that could lull you into a false sense of security when using them. Face masks are a prime example of this, but the same could be true for hand sanitizer. While hand sanitizer is effective in killing the virus, it is not 100% effective. The difference between hand sanitizer and a thorough wash with water and soap is that the soap will kill the virus and also make it difficult for it to attach itself to your hands, and this 2 pronged attack is much more effective than hand sanitizer alone. If you are in a situation where you only have hand sanitizer as an option, by all means, use it, but remember that you should still avoid touching your face. It is best to assume that it wasn’t successful in cleaning your hands and wait until after you get the opportunity to use a proper sink to wash your hands.
