Fighting viruses with clean hands and fresh air
Europe’s battle against viruses is ongoing after the pandemic. This year, customers of online retailer Galaxus ordered 45% more hand sanitiser and 29% more hand soap than in the previous year. People are also buying face masks more frequently again, albeit in relatively modest quantities.
Covid-19 is still among us, even after the pandemic. While the media recently reported on a summer Covid wave, experts are expecting a usual increase of cases in autumn and winter. Fortunately, new infections are at a low level and severe cases of the virus are currently rare.
Squeaky-clean hands
If it’s one thing people in Switzerland and the EU have taken away from the last few years: the need for clean hands. In 2022, our customers ordered 73% more hand soap than in the previous year. In 2023, sales were up 49% and in 2024, 29% more soap was sold to our customers than in the same period of the previous year.
Hand sanitiser is also very popular this year. Compared to last year, 45% more bottles have been sold in 2024 so far. In terms of unit sales, numbers are even higher than in 2021.
Masks a rare sight
On 1 April 2022, wearing masks on public transport was ruled no longer mandatory in Switzerland. In Germany, most mandatory testing and masking ended in March 2023. And at the speed of lightning, mouth and nose covers largely disappeared from everyday life. In 2024, demand at Galaxus has risen again for the first time since 2021 – but still at a manageable level in terms of unit sales.
It seems that Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries prefer to use other methods than masks to protect themselves from viruses.
A breath of fresh air
For example, by using air purifiers that remove aerosols and viruses from the air. Compared to 2021, the peak of the pandemic, our customers have bought just 13% fewer air purifiers in 2024 so far. Back in 2021, January to July saw 116% more of these appliances being sold than last year. Or to put it simply, Galaxus now sells twice as many air purifiers than it did four years ago. How do you protect yourself from viruses and pathogens? Let us know in the comments!
