We hear from Professor Didier Pittet about how the hand hygiene campaign originated from identifying a problem in one hospital and translating that across the world. We also discuss how COVID-19 may change behaviour long term, the theme for WHO Hand Hygiene Day on the 5th May, ideas for improving hand hygiene in your institution and influencing people. Professor Didier Pittet is an infectious diseases expert and the director of the Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.