Frequency Of Facial Touching In Patients With Suspected Covid-19 During Their Time In The Waiting Room

Facemask use may promote face touching. We recorded patients with possible COVID-19 awaiting evaluation in an ambulatory clinic. Patients with a facemask touched their face 11.41 times on average and ranged up to 80 times. Mask use should be accompanied by hand hygiene and reminders not to touch one's face.