Health official licks finger after warning people not to touch face

The director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Dr Sara Cody, failed to heed her own advice when she licked her finger at a press conference addressing the new coronavirus in San Jose, California, on February 28.

Facebook Live footage from the department shows Dr Cody listing off a number of measures that people can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 – with one of them being to avoid touching your face.

Moments after this warning, Dr Cody can be seen licking her own finger to turn over a page in her notes, and eagle-eyed internet users were quick to point it out.

Dr Cody’s gaffe has since gone viral, with one version of the clip racking up over five million views.