Why latex gloves are the new face masks! Stars including Sylvester Stallone and Joan Collins cover their hands in Latex amid coronavirus outbreak – but experts warn they give ‘false sense of security’ and hand-washing is more effective
- Celebrities have been spotted wearing latex gloves amid coronavirus fears
- Dame Joan Collins and Joey Essex wore gloves and face masks in recent days
- Naomi Campbell and Sylvester Stallone have also worn latex gloves in public
- However experts insist washing your hands is more important and effective
Celebrities have been spotted wearing latex gloves in recent days in a bid to protect themselves from the growing coronavirus threat – but experts have advised against following their lead.
The World Health Organisation, Public Health England and the NHS have all advised members of the public focus on prioritising good personal, respiratory and hand hygiene over seemingly ‘quick fix’ solutions like wearing latex gloves and face masks.
However that hasn’t stopped high profile stars like Sylvester Stallone, Dame Joan Collins and reality star Joey Essex from wearing latex gloves in public.
Gloves on: Sylvester Stallone, 73, went all out in his battle for hygiene as he put on latex gloves to bag his groceries at a Whole Foods in Beverly Hills on Monday
Jet-set: Dame Joan Collins wore a mask and latex gloves as she arrived at LAX for her flight to London on Saturday. Dame Joan is one of a number of stars who’ve been spotted in gloves
Stallone was spotted protecting his hands while packing his bags at a Whole Foods in Beverly Hills yesterday, while Dame Joan, 86, sported a pair while arriving at LAX for her flight to London on Sunday.
Joey Essex wore gloves and a hat for lunch with Friends in London over the weekend and Naomi Campbell proved she can model anything when she showed off a pair of pink latex gloves on Instagram last week.
Meanwhile Queen, 93, made headlines last week when she wore gloves during an investiture ceremony for the first time, in a signal that even the royal family is wary of the health risks posed by the deadly illness.
It comes as COVID-19 tightens its grip on Europe. The death toll in Italy increased by 133 to 366 yesterday while the number of cases skyrocketed from 1,492 to 7,375. The UK has confirmed 278 coronavirus cases and three deaths.
Cautious: Joey Essex, 29, appeared to be putting his health first as he stepped out for lunch with a friend wearing a face mask in London on Saturday
Supermodel: Naomi Campbell, 49, appears to be taking the threat of the coronavirus seriously as she shared a snap of herself donning latex gloves last week
But health experts have warned members of the public against jumping in on the trend, saying they could simply give individuals a ‘false sense of security’.
A spokesperson for Public Health England has said previously: ‘PHE is not recommending the use of gloves as a protective measure against COVID-19 for the general public.
‘People concerned about the transmission of infectious diseases should prioritise good personal, respiratory and hand hygiene.’
The NHS added there is ‘little evidence’ that they are effective for members of the public.
Face masks have become an increasingly common sighting in airports, on streets and on public transport around the world as members of the public seek to find ways to protect themselves from COVID-19.
However Public Health England has warned that there is ‘very little evidence’ that masks are effective ‘outside of clinical settings’ such as hospitals.
The way you wear a mask is crucially importantly, academics say, because unless it is tight to the nose and mouth contaminated sneezes and coughs will get through – or linger on the surface.
The World Health Organisation said masks had to be combined with good hand hygiene and other measures for them to have any positive effect.
Royal change in behaviour: The Queen, who has carried out investitures since 1952, wore gloves for the first time as she handed out honours at an investiture ceremony last week