Handwashing technique instructions. Series of instructions for washing your hands with soap and water, as produced by the National Patient Safety Agency and Clean Your Hands campaign for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. These hand positions maximise coverage of the skin during cleaning. High standards of hygiene are needed in hospitals to reduce the chances of hospital-acquired infections. Photographed on 1 March 2020, during the 2019-20 outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This coronavirus causes a respiratory infection (COVID-19) that can lead to fatal pneumonia. The outbreak of this disease has killed thousands, with many tens of thousands infected worldwide as it spreads.