Why isn't this on the front page of EVERY FUCKING PAPER??

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20. the jury's still out on that one.

what is clear is that the far bigger risks are
a) not washing hands at all
b) not washing properly (soap on wet hands, 20 seconds minimum vigorous scrubbing)
c) not drying thoroughly (40 seconds minimum on the air dryers -- annoying when some of them time out at 30 seconds).
d) after all that, touching the filthy bathroom door handle.

it is true that the air dryers need to be maintained and cleaned properly and regularly, and likely many are not. that said, it's not clear that whatever negative effects the air dryers have outweigh the positives.


note also that ordinary paper towels are not germ-free either.