Does a hydroalcoholic gel stored for several months at the bottom of a handbag retain its effectiveness against Covid-19? ANSES has just published a new opinion on the matter.
- Since the start of the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in France, 33,690,499 people have received at least one injection (i.e. 50.0% of the total population) and 22,265,100 people now have a complete vaccination schedule (i.e. 33.0% of the total population).
- The indicators of the Covid-19 epidemic are still green in France: less than 9,000 people were hospitalized on Tuesday June 29, 2,314 contaminations and 28 deaths have been recorded during the past 24 hours.
- These data support the decision to end many restrictions on June 30… but require maintaining barrier gestures
While the last stage of deconfinement takes place this Wednesday, June 30 with the lifting of several health restrictions still in force (and the maintenance of a small number of others), ANSES gives new tips for continuing to use the hydroalcoholic gel properly.
Prefer an alcohol concentration greater than 65%
For lasting effectiveness, it is first recommended to favor gels and solutions with at least 65% alcohol or whose effectiveness against viruses has been previously validated experimentally, according to standard EN 14476.
Check mentions
Gels and solutions bearing the mentions “virucidal according to standard EN 14476”, “hydro-alcoholic solution recommended by the World Health Organization for hand antisepsis” Where “hydro-alcoholic gel for hand antisepsis – derogatory decree” are recognized for their effectiveness against coronaviruses.
Prefer caps to pumps
Regarding the containers, “pumps are less hermetic than corks, alcohol evaporates more easily”, explains Catherine Gourlay-Francé, Deputy Director of the Assessment of Regulated Products at ANSES. To ensure that effective products are used, it is therefore necessary to choose the type of container best suited to the frequency of use, reserving the bottles equipped with a pump for frequent use.
Other tips to follow
To ensure the effectiveness of hydroalcoholic products, it is also recommended to:
– Respect the instructions for storage and use indicated on the packaging.
– Do not exceed the expiry date.
– Keep the product away from heat and direct sunlight and in a clean place.
– Close the container tightly after use.
– Use the product fairly quickly after opening if the bottle is fitted with a dosing pump.
– If transferring from one container to another, do so in a place at less than 20°C to limit the evaporation of alcohol.
– If a container is reused, clean it before filling it, at least with soap and water, and limit the number of reuses.
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