As Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, continues to globally spread without any cure, the World Health Organization (WHO) has considered it a pandemic, with thousands of cases and above 9,000 deaths reported across the world.
Without any valid vaccine or cure, the best bet for humanity right now is to prevent the spread of the virus and curtail the outbreak of new cases.
Public restrooms are one of the most affected places since these are available to everyone, and the COVID-19 virus can last several hours on surfaces, such as door handles, toilets, faucets, and taps if it’s not disinfected.
To prevent the spread of this virus and reduce exposure, here are some best practices to adopt when using public restrooms.
- Maintain Safe Distance
WHO advises people to maintain at least a safe 1 meter (3 feet) or ideally 1.5-meter distance between you and others, especially those who are sick or coughing. This is because when someone sneezes or coughs, especially if they’re infected, people around the person can breathe in the droplets from the cough and consequently contact the COVID-19 virus.
How does this work in public restrooms? Management of public restrooms should maintain a strict policy of safe distance whenever more than one person is using the toilet.
Management can also invest in bathroom and toilet stall dividers if they don’t have one already. In addition to creating a safe distance and protect people using the restrooms at the same time, it’s also important to always sanitize these toilet and bathroom stall dividers.
- Provide Hand Sanitizers and Soap in the Restrooms
Restroom managers might have to consider providing soap or at least hand sanitizers for people to use in public restrooms. Indubitably, not everyone will come with their hand sanitizers. So, it’s better to provide some for them.
Instruct users to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol content before and after using the restrooms.
Also, consider offering face masks to people who are ill, coughing, or sneezing but need to use the restroom urgently.
Other safe, helpful practices include provisions of disposable towels, disinfectants, tissue papers, no-touch garbage bags, among others, to encourage personal hygiene.
- Put Up Handwashing Signs in Restrooms
Frequently washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer has proved to be one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of Coronavirus. By regularly washing your hands, you have the opportunity to kill the virus before infecting yourself or other people you come in contact with and surfaces you touch.
Management of public restrooms should ensure that people wash their hands when they use the restroom by hanging several handwashing signs at visible locations. That way, users will see the signs, reminding them to wash up, even if they forget initially.
It’s also helpful to place instructions on how to properly wash hands and use hand sanitizers in the restrooms.
- Clean and Disinfect Restrooms Frequently
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting the restrooms and frequently touched surfaces and objects is another effective way of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in public restrooms.
Research says viruses such as COVID-19 are a sort of hot spot and spread faster on surfaces, such as door handles, sink faucets, and toilet seats. Hence, cleaning such surfaces with disinfecting wipes can reduce or prevent the spread of the virus.
This practice will require cleaners to frequently sterilize the environment and surfaces, such as doorknobs, toilet seats, faucets, washing basins, trash cans, etc.
It’s also advisable to use cleaning agents/substances with at least 60 percent alcohol concentration to clean and sterilize toilets, bathrooms, surfaces before and after using the restrooms.
Also, ensure that there’s a great ventilation system in the restrooms. If allowed, install air filters and avoid overcrowding the toilet per time.
- Safe and Proper Waste Disposal System
Items dropped inside the trash cans are potential carriers of the COVID-19 virus and should be treated with utmost caution.
Properly dispose of waste by making sure that all used materials are discarded into the waste bin and adequately bagged.
Empty waste bin frequently to avoid spillage and contamination. Also, ensure you sterilize and disinfect thoroughly before and after disposing of waste. Alternatively, make use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when taking the garbage bags outside the restroom for disposal.
Other useful safety tips include:
- Drying your hand with a paper towel or tissue paper after washing your hands. Then, immediately discard it into the garbage bin.
- Always protect your hands with toilet paper before touching door handles, opening/closing taps, and before pressing the flush button.
- Avoid putting anything, such as phones, bags, books on the restroom floor.
Conclusion
Public restrooms are a dangerous place to be amidst the coronavirus scare. However, by adopting best practices, such as maintaining a safe distance, encouraging personal hygiene, choosing a secure waste disposal system, and disinfecting the restrooms, people who need public restrooms can continue to use them without fear of spreading or contracting the virus.
