In hindsight, the washing was overreaction, but you do have to realize there wasn't enough knowledge in the beginning, and people were assuming the virus was like the influenza virus, and we usually (at least the common wisdom was) catch influenza through touching snot-laden surfaces. It didn't help when China was saying things like they found some viruses on surfaces after 3 days. Sure, but how much virus, i.e. would they be enough to make you sick? The lack of information also made the virus like a super monster, where any trace of it could be deadly...
Now that we've figured out the virus is airborne, I'm a bit disappointed that governments haven't focused on good ventilation, but still on disinfecting and keeping distance. Where I live the bus can be full of people but it seems the governments are saying "It'll be fine to sit so close to each other if you have a mask on", and people also don't know any better...