Right now, it’s more important than ever to keep your personal hygiene in check – and that includes the stuff you learned as a kid, like washing your hands properly.
However, new reports suggest most us probably aren’t giving our mits the scrubbing they really need.
According to NHS London, “washing your hands is the best way to protect yourself and others from the spread of germs, including coronavirus.”
NHS also states that “you should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.”
Wait, what!?
Listen to the GOAT team unpack the coronavirus emergency on It’s Been A Big Day For…below:
According to the 1998 Guinness World Records, ‘Happy Birthday To You’ is the most recognised song in the English language and has been translated into at least 18 languages. So everybody knows it, but how long does it take to sing?
The official Wikipedia page for ‘Happy Birthday’ reckons the melody goes for 14 seconds, so twice over would take you to almost half a minute.
If humiliating yourself by singing ‘Happy Birthday’ over and over again while you wash your hands isn’t giving you good vibes, there are plenty of other options.
BBC Radio 5 Live suggests ‘God Save the Queen’ for all the Brits out there.
‘Path of Least Resistance’ by Modest Mouse goes for a modest 28 seconds, ‘The Dead Kennedys’ song ‘Short Songs’ is, as the title suggests, 30 seconds long and The Beatles invented the concept of the ‘hidden track’ with ‘Her Majesty.’
There’s also far more that goes into protecting yourself from the spread of coronavirus than learning how to wash your hands properly and singing a few songs.
According to WHO, basic protective measures against COVID-19 include washing your hands frequently, maintain social distancing, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, practice respiratory hygiene, seek medical care early, stay informed and follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Now go forth, practice some vocal warm-ups and learn how to wash your hands properly, like a pro.
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