A new report from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) found nearly half (48%) of U.S. adults admit to forgetting or choosing not to wash their hands at key times, such as after visiting grocery stores, restaurants or coffee shops, or a healthcare setting (doctor’s office, pharmacy, clinic, hospital, etc.).

The report offers unique insights into where, when, and why U.S. adults are most likely to wash their hands, and when they forget or choose not to do so. Following the worst flu season in 15 years and several norovirus outbreaks across the U.S., the NFID report reveals that while U.S. adults say they know how to wash their hands properly, their habits often suggest otherwise.

 Key survey findings include:

• Six out of 10 (62%) survey respondents correctly answered that washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds effectively reduces the spread of germs.
• While forgetting is the most common reason reported for not washing hands, one in five (20%) actively choose not to wash their hands, citing reasons like it being unnecessary, a lack of time, or a concern about drying out their hands.
• Of those who did not wash their hands with soap and water, men are more likely to simply forget, while women are more likely to use alternatives like hand sanitizer.
• The top three situations that prompt U.S. adults to wash their hands are: after using the restroom (69%), after handling food (48%), and after handling human or animal waste (39%).
• Only 30% of respondents reported that they are most likely to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, which is a concern, given how easily respiratory diseases such as flu can spread.

“Given the importance of handwashing in infectious disease prevention, the stakes are high—improving hand hygiene can help improve health for all,” said Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr., NFID medical director. “While handwashing is an important strategy for disease prevention, and should be complementary to vaccination, it is a critical and often overlooked tool.”

Estimates show that if everyone routinely washed their hands, about 1 million lives could be saved around the world each year.

According to the survey, 55% of U.S. adults wash their hands primarily to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. In addition, 68% of respondents said that avoiding spreading germs to others was among their top three reasons for handwashing, showing concern for protecting others in the community.

For some, handwashing is a seasonal behavior—one in four (26%) respondents reported washing their hands more frequently in the fall and winter, even though germs can spread throughout the year. The survey also found that one-third of respondents reported washing their hands more now than they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW), which acknowledges the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. NSBW 2025 takes place May 4-10, and SBA is recognizing the hard work, ingenuity, and dedication of small businesses, including their contributions to the economy.

“This National Small Business Week, we celebrate the contributions of small businesses that create jobs, drive our local economies, and make up the fabric of our communities,” said Senator Edward Markey, (D-Mass.), a U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship ranking member.

More than 34.7 million small businesses in America account for more than 99.9% of all businesses and employing 45.9% of American workers, or about 59 million people.

The release of the Trump administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal recommends drastic cuts to essential Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. It eliminates funding for almost all entrepreneurial development programs, including Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), SCORE business mentoring, the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs).

On Friday, Senator Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statement after the release of the budget proposal:

“President Trump’s budget proposal starves the Small Business Administration with a draconian 33% cut to resources that support our nation’s 34 million small businesses. It eliminates longstanding, successful bipartisan programs, such as SCORE mentoring services, and shutters more than 150 Women’s Business Centers that support women entrepreneurs. It eliminates the State Trade Expansion Program that helps small businesses stay competitive and sell their goods abroad, and axes programs that foster our innovation and technology sectors. SBA’s veteran outreach programs, which helped 58,000 former members of the military use their skills to start new enterprises last year, would be cut by 46%.”