A handwashing video from the Edmonton Police and Community Engagement Program (PACE) is gaining traction online for its upbeat tone and catchy moves in dealing with the novel coronavirus.
Washing your hands regularly has been recommended by Canadian health officials and the World Health Organization as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
The video was posted on the official PACE Instagram account, featuring a parody version of the “Cha-Cha Slide.”
It shows Cst. Kulmiye demonstrating a handwashing move as the lyrics tell him to pump soap, scrub his hands, rinse off, and “dry off real smooth.”
While his technique isn’t the method recommended by the World Health Organization, the post says it is meant to “share positive vibes.”
The WHO’s recommendations for handwashing say that it should take about as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice.
Experts say that the novel coronavirus is “enveloped,” meaning that it has an outermost wrapper — a greasy outer covering — that requires soap to dissolve.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials say the risk is low for Canadians but warn this could change quickly. They caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are asked to self-isolate for 14 days in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. And if you get sick, stay at home.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.