Angara eyes ban on handshakes

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sonny Angara yesterday filed a resolution seeking to discourage handshaking to help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other germs.

The resolution seeks to express the “sense of the Senate to discourage handshaking as it poses danger in health and can escalate the spread of virus and germs.”

The senator warned that the coronavirus can easily be transmitted from one person to another when virus-infected droplets are released to the air or onto surfaces through sneezes and coughs.

The droplets may reach the nose, mouth or eyes of a person as he or she touches contaminated objects and surfaces, or comes into sustained close contact, to include handshakes, with somebody who has been infected.

“Citizens are urged not use the handshake as a form of greeting to protect oneself and also other people. Even during the flu season every cold month of the year, it is recommended to skip handshakes to prevent infecting others,” Angara said in his resolution.    

If passed, the resolution would express Congress’ advise to “discourage handshaking and promote hand hygiene to minimize the spread of infectious diseases, bacteria and viruses.”

He acknowledged the handshake as a social custom and a sign of respect and courtesy in everyday greeting around the globe.

While handshakes vary between cultures, the touching of hands remains a general element, Angara said.

He, however, said the handshake poses significant health risks, and has been identified as a means for passing ailments and respiratory viruses as stated by the World Health Organization.

Angara cited a study by the American Journal of Infection Control that handshakes transfer most of the E. coli as compared with fist bumps and high fives.