• by P.J. Bednarski  @pjbtweet, June 3, 2020

Samsung introduced the Hand Wash app, available now from the Galaxy Store for five types of Samsung wearables -- obviously just in time, or slightly too late, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It reminds you to do what your mom always told you: Wash your hands!

The app can be downloaded for use by Gear S3, Gear Sports, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active and Galaxy Watch Active users.

South Korea, where Samsung is headquartered, has been known for keeping its COVID-19 numbers low, though they’ve spiked upwards recently.

The electronics giant cites a British medical study that advises people to wash their hands six to 10 times a day.

But Samsung smart watch users can set their own pace.  Once they set a daily goal, the watches remember when you’re due.

“To help you engage in regular handwashing, the Hand Wash app includes an alarm function; users can select the Reminders button to add or modify the timings of their alarms,” Samsung’s explanation notes.  

Samsung’s not the first with this tool. The Google Clock app will tell you every three hours to wash your hands. Fitbit created a series of COVID--19 related aids to help people exercise at home, and a Clean Cues feature that reminds you it’s time to wash up.

Samsung’s version lets you modify your plan if, for some reason you wash your hands at some other time.  You can tap the ‘Wash now” button, which will disable the next alarm.

Otherwise, when you’re ready to wash, press a button on the watch, which activates a timer for 25 seconds. That’s five seconds to lather up and 20 seconds to scrub. No need to sing "Happy Birthday." The waterproof watch counts down the seconds.

It wouldn’t be an electronic device without a dashboard. This one keeps track of how long it's been since you last washed and notes how many times you've already done it that day.

Another function will chart how well you are maintaining your hand-washing regimen, and provides a weekly average.

The CDC has a handy website item, “When and How to Wash Your Hands,” that app users might want to reference.