Norway revises COVID-19 hand washing recommendations because children are getting sore hands and eczema

SVT Nyheter says (in Swedish) that alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are gentler on skin than soap, can be used if hands are not visibly dirty. Soap is still recommended at the start of the school day and after using the bathroom or taking breaks. Not only is hand eczema painful, according to an expert, it can also increase the risk of infection.

As for Sweden, the number of new COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units peaked in early April and the trend continues downward.