Yes.
Hand sanitizer alone is not enough to break through norovirus’s protective shield. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to help kill the bug. Hand sanitizer remains helpful in combating flus and colds.
Norovirus, also known as the “stomach bug” or the “winter vomiting bug,” is a highly contagious virus that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads through contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces, water and food. Other symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, fever and aches. As vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration, people with norovirus should remember to drink plenty of water if able.
Other ways to prevent the spread of norovirus include disinfecting surfaces and immediately washing any clothes contaminated with feces or vomit at warmest settings.
Norovirus usually spreads between November and April and is responsible for 58% of food-borne illnesses in the U.S.
See full source list below.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.