Gloves form an essential part of the personal protective equipment (PPE). However, unlike masks, gloves are not supposed to be worn all the time or when outdoors to buy groceries.
As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gloves should be worn under two circumstances:
When caring for the sick
- Gloves should be worn while touching of having contact with an infected person’s blood, stool, urine, or body fluids such as saliva, vomit, and mucus.
- Gloves should be worn while cleaning or disinfecting the area around the sick person’s bed or room.
When performing routine cleaning at home
- Disposable gloves should be used to clean or disinfectant the house as per the instructions mentioned on the label of the disinfectant.
- People must maintain good ventilation into the room to keep fresh air coming.
Under all circumstances, the gloves should be disposed of in a lined trash can. Also, people must wash their hands with soap or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol after they remove their gloves.
With that said, people are not required to wear gloves when they are outdoors, for instance, while grocery shopping or using an ATM as this may not reduce the risk of infection. This is opposite to the use of a face mask, which must be worn at all times when the person is outside in a public space. However, there is no requirement to wear a mask at home while performing routine cleaning.
Overall, the most effective ways to prevent COVID-19 include the following:
- Maintaining a six-feet distance with others
- Washings hands with soap regularly using a 20-second technique
- Using a hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol when soap is not available
- Wearing a face covering or a mask when out in public
Reference: CDC
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