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Doctors warn gloves could spread coronavirus if they're not worn properly

Just because you put on a pair, doesn’t mean germs aren’t spreading. Doctors say coronavirus is highly contagious and can live on any surface you touch.

TAMPA, Fla. —

As more businesses open, many people are going out and looking for ways to do it safely. 

They use masks and gloves as an extra layer of protection, but doctors say they don’t always work.

“We see it all the time because we use them in the medical field, but it doesn’t mean you’re protected. They have to be used properly,” Dr. Maria Hicks said.

Just because you put on a pair, doesn’t mean germs aren’t spreading. Dr. Hicks says coronavirus is highly contagious and can live on any surface you touch.

“It stays on surfaces for hours, in plastic, in metal, in the air, so transmission is there. Ideally, you should just change it! You also actually have to wash your hands before you put the gloves on or use hand sanitizer before and after when you are removing the gloves,” Dr. Hicks said.

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The doctor says you can sanitize the gloves while wearing them, but only once or twice before changing into a new pair. For the general public, CDC recommends wearing gloves when you are cleaning or caring for someone who is sick. Here are some guidelines:

CLEANING:

  • When you are routinely cleaning and disinfecting your home.
  • Follow precautions listed on the disinfectant product label, which may include-wearing gloves (reusable or disposable) and having good ventilation by turning on a fan or opening a window to get fresh air into the room you’re cleaning. 
  • Wash your hands after you have removed the gloves.

CARING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS SICK:

  • If you are providing care to someone who is sick at home or in another non-healthcare setting. 
  • Use disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting the area around the person who is sick or other surfaces that may be frequently touched in the home.
  • Use disposable gloves when touching or having contact with blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine.
  • After using disposable gloves, throw them out in a lined trash can. Do not disinfect or reuse the gloves.
  • Wash your hands after you have removed the gloves.

GLOVES IN THE WORKPLACE:

Guidelines and recommendations for glove use in healthcare and work settings will differ from recommendations for the general public 

WHEN GLOVES AREN’T NEEDED:

Wearing gloves outside of these instances (for example, when using a shopping cart or using an ATM) will not necessarily protect you from getting COVID-19 and may still lead to the spread of germs. The best way to protect yourself from germs when running errands and after going out is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

COVID-19 is a respiratory virus and is mainly spread through droplets created when a person who is infected coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can protect yourself by keeping social distance (at least 6 feet) from others and washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol) at key times and practicing everyday preventive actions.

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