Warning for drivers to disinfect their car door handles as man is caught on CCTV ‘licking his hand’ and touching each one in street

Video has emerged of a man appearing to lick his hand before touching a car door handle and walking away.

The CCTV shows the man putting his hand to his mouth before approaching the vehicle and pulling at the door handle. 

As the incident unfolds, a man narrating of the video says: 'I'm bringing to your attention guys, there's people walking around in the middle of the night, walking into people's driveways and touching the door handles of cars. 

'As you can see that guy there just gone into the neighbour's driveway, now coming into my driveway and now you can see him coming towards my driveway, touching his mouth, and then touching the door handle.' 

The man then leaves the scene.

Man appears to lick his hand before touching car door handles

Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

0:00

Previous

Play

Skip

Mute

Current Time0:00

/

Duration Time0:43

Fullscreen

Need Text

+5

CCTV shows the man putting his hand to his mouth before approaching the vehicle and pulling at the door handle

+5

The man had been seen earlier in the video appearing to try another car door handle in a neighbour's garden

It is not clear when and where the video was filmed.

However, it has prompted social media users to warn drivers to disinfect their door handles before getting into their vehicles due to the risk of coronavirus. 

One Twitter user, Steve Smith, posted the video and urged 'please clean your door handles'.

Another Twitter user, who also posted the video, said: 'Disinfect your car door handles before getting in your cars.'

The video has has prompted social media users to warn drivers to disinfect their door handles before getting into their vehicles due to the risk of coronavirus.

+5

Some Twitter users believe the man had a different motive. Glenn Carter suggested the man was checking the door handles to see if they were locked

However, some Twitter users believe the man had a different motive.

Earlier in the video, the man is seen appearing to touch the door handle of a car in a neighbouring driveway.

In a reply to the video, Twitter user, Glenn Carter, suggested the man was checking the door handles to see if they were locked.

He said: 'They are not licking their mouths and spreading this virus - it’s a coincidence that he touched his mouth.

+5

'He would have to know he was carrying the virus for this to be having any effect, he is checking the car is locked - they do this all the time.'

Official advice from government experts suggests that Covid-19 can live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours.

Meanwhile, the NHS say you should wash your hands with warm water for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice (around 20 seconds).

How to clean your home if you have come into contact with someone suspected to have Covid-19 

Though the country is in lockdown, banning all but essential travel to shops for supplies, for medical needs, and for essential work, key workers could still bring Covid-19 back into your home.

Here's the official advice from the government for cleaning your home if someone who has been in your home is suspected to have Covid-19: 

• Cleaning an area with normal household disinfectant after someone with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

• Wherever possible, wear disposable or washing-up gloves and aprons for cleaning. These should be double-bagged, then stored securely for 72 hours then thrown away in the regular rubbish after cleaning is finished.

+5

The World Health Organization's hand-washing method has six distinct steps (two to seven) which involve washing different parts of the hands

• Using a disposable cloth, first clean hard surfaces with warm soapy water. Then disinfect these surfaces with the cleaning products you normally use. Pay particular attention to frequently touched areas and surfaces, such as bathrooms, grab-rails in corridors and stairwells and door handle. 

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds, and after removing gloves, aprons and other protection used while cleaning.

• If an area has been heavily contaminated, such as with visible bodily fluids, from a person with coronavirus (COVID-19), consider using protection for the eyes, mouth and nose, as well as wearing gloves and an apron.