Report: Dartmouth Students Wash Hands

After learning on Monday, March 2nd of the first reported case of coronavirus in the Upper Valley which has continued to make national headlines, Dartmouth College reports that  students are spending significantly more time in campus bathrooms washing their hands. 

The CDC-recommended practice of routine, thorough hand washing is not unfamiliar to Dartmouth students. Many report being taught at a young age to vigorously scrub their hands  with soap and water while singing a song such as Happy Birthday to ensure sufficient removal of germs. “Of course I always wash my hands” said Luke Jefferson, ‘22. “But ever since that scary email I’ve like, really washed my hands, if you know what I mean.” Studies have revealed that what Jefferson had previously deemed ‘washing hands’ – simply running grime-ridden palms under a quick jet of water – is ineffective at preventing the spread of diseases such as COVID-19. “Coronavirus has definitely made me more vigilant about hand washing” affirmed Annabelle Stuart ‘23, who had failed to notice that the soap dispenser in her floor’s bathroom in the Choates had been empty for two weeks.

While many Dartmouth students have proven that they can comprehend  the complex biology behind coronavirus, it is unclear whether they are also capable of mastering proper hygiene.