One in 20 people have admitted to not washing their hands at all, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a recent survey, 61% of people use soap and water to wash their hands, while almost 27% use soap, water and hand sanitiser.

However, one in 20 people (5%) admitted to not washing their hands at all.

The survey was conducted last month by McCabes Pharmacy and according to one of its superintendent pharmacists, Lisa Byrne, the effectiveness of washing your hands should not be underestimated.

She noted that if nothing else is available, even washing with nothing but water can be beneficial, as the motion of rubbing your hands together can physically remove some of the bacteria present.

"You can't control what you touch and you can't control who has touched it, but you can look after your own hands. By washing your hands, you are physically removing things from your hands, and by using soap, you are getting rid of more of the bacteria and viruses," she explained.

A corresponding survey considered the circumstances that would prompt people to wash their hands during the current health crisis and it revealed that despite current public health advice, 40% of people were not washing their hands after coughing or sneezing, while 53% were not washing their hands after shaking hands with someone.

Ms Byrne noted that the sale of hand sanitisers has jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic. She advised people to only purchase sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol to kill more germs. However, she emphasised that sanitisers do not eliminate all types of germs.

"People should wash their hands as frequently as they can during the day and if they are out and about, they should carry a hand sanitiser with them.

"The more people wash their hands the better they get at it, paying more attention to the details of washing areas like the backs of hands, wrists and in between the fingers, areas which they might not have considered before," she added.

The surveys were carried out on in March and involved 1,000 adults over the age of 18.