We’re all washing our hands vigorously during the Covid-19 pandemic. But what about our nails?

A nurse has warned that long nails can be one of the fastest spreaders of coronavirus as they can harbour germs, bacteria and even the virus underneath.

The Australian health worker wrote that the best practice is to keep nails short.

To test if your nails are short enough, she said you can press the tip of your finger. against your skin. If you can feel your nails but not the flesh of your finger, the nails are too long and need to be cut immediately.

Writing on Facebook, she said: ‘Among all the hand-washing instructions and the fun 20-second song suggestions, I haven’t seen anyone note that it is impossible to wash your hands properly if your fingernails are long’.

‘If you can’t put your fingernails straight down against your other palm without your nails adding too much distance to do it, you cannot wash under your fingernails properly unless you use a nail brush every time.’

Having long nails is particularly dangerous if you regularly bite your nails which can introduce the virus into your system.

Many of us have been using hand sanitisers at this time but the nurse warned that this alone won’t do the trick for long nails.

If you have naturally long or fake nails on at the moment, the best thing would be to cut them or take them off as it’s unlikely you’re using a nail brush each time uou wash your hands.

She added: ‘If you can’t rub the very ends of your fingers against the other palm, then your hands aren’t truly clean after you wash them, no matter how long you soap up.

‘Please, during this global emergency, keep your nails short.’

Many people commented on the post saying that keeping nails short is standard practice for medical professionals who are around bacteria more than others.

Facebookers shared other tips too saying that there can be germs in nail polish too and advised everyone to keep their nails short and clean.

One person added ‘The same is true of engagement rings and wedding bands.’

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