Coronavirus expert licks finger while warning people not to touch their mouths

As of the most recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the current number of confirmed cases of coronavirus currently stands at 95,333 globally. In addition, the SARS-like virus has also been responsible for 3,283 deaths.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, many experts around the world are speaking out on how people can protect themselves from the disease, and avoid spreading it.

One of these experts is Dr Sara Cody from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department in California, who spoke yesterday at a televised press conference where she warned people to not touch their mouths, saying:

"Today, start working on not touching your face - because one main way viruses spread is when you touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes."

However, just seconds later, Cody was caught on camera bringing her hand to her mouth and licking her finger in order to turn a page in her notes.

Check out the embarrassing blunder below:

The unfortunate act of hypocrisy has since been widely shared online.

In response to the clip, one Twitter user by the name of Martin Williams tweeted: "Dr. Sara Cody, director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department finds out how difficult it is to follow her own hygiene advice over coronavirus."

Credit: 1861

Prior to being caught out by the embarrassing habit, Cody was speaking at the press conference about the third confirmed case of coronavirus in Santa Clara County in San Jose, California. The new case is the second confirmed instance of a US citizen catching the deadly virus without a travel history or having had any contact with travelers or infected people.

Expert discusses whether or not people should self-isolate amid the coronavirus crisis:

As of this writing, a total of 159 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the US. Per the Metro, 11 people have died – 10 of them around Seattle, with the 11th dying in a hospital in Sacramento, California, on Wednesday.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus, you can read through the WHO advice and health tips HERE.