Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is as effective as handwashing with soap against the SARS-CoV2 virus, but it is less widely available and often more expensive. ABHR may be recommended in:
Health-care facilities
Situations where access to soap and water is limited or more expensive to access
Where there is a need for rapid and effective decontamination of hands
Local production of ABHR is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) only if there are no other suitable commercial products available or they are too costly. If you choose to produce ABHR locally, follow this guide by the WHO.
Want to learn more about making soap and alcohol-based hand rub at the community level:
Editor's notes:
Author: Astrid Hasund Thorseth
Reviewers: Ron Orcajada, Amy Pickering, Melinda Foran
Last update: 27.5.2020