Abstract: A sanitary device for protecting an individual from being infected by germs present on telephones. One embodiment includes one or two elements having a planar contact member which fits over the earpiece or mouthpiece of a telephone receiver to protect the user from the transmission of germs. The elements include a ring surrounding the planar contact member and connected thereto by resilient connecting arms. In another embodiment, the device includes a flexible member having two open interior regions, two substantially planar regions adjoining respective ones of the interior regions, and a connecting portion. The planar regions are structured and arranged to fit directly against the sound-receiving portion of the mouthpiece or the sound-emitting portion of the earpiece of the telephone handset while the connecting portion is positioned at a rear of the handset such that the mouthpiece and earpiece extend through a respective one of the interior regions.