People who pick their noses have a three-times greater likelihood of contracting Covid, a new study of hospital workers published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS (Public Library of Science) ONE shows, reports the Washington Post.
The study examined three behaviors–picking one’s nose, having a beard, and biting one’s fingernails–that weaken health and hygiene guidelines in hospitals to see if there was an associated increase in Covid infection. While only around a third of subjects reported having a beard or biting nails, nearly 85% said they picked their noses at least once in the previous month. The three conditions were studied because they impacted the ability of facemasks to seal properly and efficiently.
The study found 17% of nose-pickers got Covid, versus just 6% of people reporting the other habits. Researchers–both independent and those involved in the study–not that the coronavirus typically accesses the human system through the nose, so contaminating the nasal cavity with a finger will increase transmission, as would scrapping the mucus, potentially exposing blood vessels under the layer of mucus.