Healthcare providers are concerned over recent increases in illnesses such as RSV, Influenza, COVID, and other viral infections.  HSHS Illinois encourages everyone to frequently wash their hands. Stephanie Thannum, HSHS Illinois manager of quality and infection prevention says that COVID, flu, and RSV spread mostly through droplets in the air, but could also be spread by hands which means that germs can be spread by hands coming into contact with a hard surface contaminated by the cough or sneeze of an infected person.  You can protect yourself by thoroughly washing your hands often, especially before eating or touching your face, and after using the restroom.

Some germs can live on non-porous surfaces from a few hours to a few days and most cold and viral respiratory germs can live on hard surfaces for up to one week, but they do lose their effectiveness after the first 24 hours.  Influenza can live from up to 24-48 hours on a hard surface, and COVID can live on a hard surface from a few hours to a few days. 

Highly touched surfaces are surfaces that people frequently touch with their hands.  These can easily become contaminated by germs that spread to other areas through touch.  For more information on how to properly wash your hands, visit www.cdc.gov/hygiene/personal-hygiene/hands.html.

HSHS Illinois Hospitals include St. John’s in Springfield, St. Elizabeth’s in O’Fallon, St. Mary’s in Decatur, St. Anthony’s in Effingham, St. Francis in Litchfield, St. Joseph’s in Breese, Holy Family in Greenville, St. Joseph’s in Highland, and Good Shepherd in Shelbyville.