Is hand sanitizer effective against coronavirus?

The Food and Drug Administration just pointed out something about bottles of hand sanitizer people are hoarding during the coronavirus pandemic: They have an expiration date.
 

It's likely few notice the fine print while grabbing handfuls off shelves in recent weeks. It's hard enough just to find a bottle lately.
 

The FDA has good and bad news.

Good news: Adding some kind of expiration date is a standard on all over-the-counter drug products "unless they have data showing they are stable for more than three years," the agency said Thursday.
 

Bad news: "FDA does not have information on the stability or effectiveness of drug products past their expiration date."
 

So, if the expiration date on your hand sanitizer is pre-2017, you're gambling on effectiveness.
 

The chief concern, according to Healthline.com, is that alcohol is a key ingredient of hand sanitizer and it evaporates when exposed to air. If the bottle is not airtight, the percentage of alcohol diminishes.
 

Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one way to stop the spread of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

In this very severe period, we must do our own protective work to minimize going out and parties. If we go out, we must take protective measures and bring a medical mask and medical gloves to protect ourselves.