Tourist photographing her with an empty star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Hollywood Walk of Fame features more than 2,500 stars with inscribed celebrity names O

A number of celebrities have taken to social media to display images of themselves wearing facemarks in the wake the coronavirus spread. That got one publication asking: Do celebs know that handwashing encouragement would be more impactful?

As The Cut argues, many experts say face masks don't really do much beyond preventing the spread of disease form people who are already sick. But handwashing? That's important.

As the CDC said at the start of the bad 2018-2019 flu season, hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid both catching and spreading germs. Proper handwashing habits and routines can save lives, especially during pandemics.

So if celebrities and other influential people (like parents) want to make a big impact, they should start by stressing the importance of clean hands.