Using Public Restrooms Safely during the Coronavirus Pandemic

As we venture out of our homes on necessary excursions during the coronavirus pandemic, the need to visit a public restroom is likely to arise at some point. We offer the following recommendations on using public restrooms as safely as possible during the pandemic.

Tried-and-true Infection Control Measures

首先，個人感染控製的基本原理仍然適用。手工衛生對每個人都仍然至關重要。Wash your handsthoroughly for at least 20 seconds after using the public toilet.Dry your handstoo, as wet hands can more easily transfer pathogens to surfaces than dry hands.

讓你的手遠離你的臉，不要在公共廁所施加化妝（無論如何你的麵具覆蓋大約一半，應該在您的訪問期間停留）。自動門對洗手間，無尺寸的龍頭和肥皂分配器，以及自動衛生間衝洗機構可以幫助您在洗手間表麵上接觸您的接觸病原體。

Where touch-less features are not available, we recommend you place a paper towel between your hand and the surface you need to touch, for example, the sink basin faucet after washing hands and the door handle when leaving the restroom. But don’t count on all public restrooms to be well-stocked with paper towels. Tuck a few of these in your pocket, purse, or backpack before leaving home. If paper towels are not available, you can sometimes use your elbow to push open or close doors. A small bottle of hand sanitizer is another essential item to carry and use frequently when out of the house. It may be all you have to clean your hands with if the public restroom sink faucets are inoperable.

與冠狀病毒一起使用的策略

隨著社會疏散是避免冠狀病毒的重大戰略，盡量避免擁擠的廁所。雖然在公共洗手間保持六英尺的社會距離可能很困難，但你可以在自己和他人之間施加的空間越多。如果您正在等待隊列進入公共廁所，請嚐試與他人保持社交距離。

Public health experts strongly recommend everyone over the age of two wear a face mask to help avoid inhaling or exhaling infected respiratory droplets and fine mists. Importantly, leave your face mask on when you use a public toilet and do not touch or adjust it. A face mask is effective only if it fits snugly over your nose and mouth. We have probably all seen variations on wearing masks that do not meet the “gold standard” of proper coverage. Touching your mask and rearranging it frequently is counterproductive and potentially could spread pathogens. And remember, a face shield is not a substitute for a properly fitted face mask.

研究人員believe the coronavirus is transmitted primarily through the air when infected people cough or sneeze. Coughing and sneezing release virus-laden droplets of diameter greater than about 5 microns¹來自人類呼吸道;這些液滴可以沉積或吸入受感染的個體附近的人。另一個可能的空氣中暴露於病毒是通過微觀的“生物溶膠”，由固體殘留物組成蒸發respiratory droplets released into the air when infected people breathe or talk. Because of the very small diameter of bioaerosol particles (less than 5 microns), they may remain airborne for many hours. While studies of bioaerosols are ongoing, it bears repeating: Wear your mask when you are in a public place or with others not in your immediate circle.

廁所衝洗

衛生間衝洗可能會產生衛生間碗內容物的細霧。過去，我們推薦了closing the lid(if there is one) before flushing. Studies have shown flushing can spread pathogens to nearby surfaces, includingcontaminating toothbrushes stored in residential bathrooms. Some automatic public toilets flush repeatedly during a single use which, while ensuring the user does not make physical contact with the flushing mechanism, could expose the user repeatedly to a bioaerosol from the toilet. These toilets likely waste water too.

研究人員continue to study the coronavirus and its transmission. Currently, the virus is not thought to be spread via the feces of infected individuals as is諾洛病毒, for example. But the coronavirus is not our only public health concern during the pandemic. A general, prudent approach to flushing public toilets is to turn your back on the toilet immediately after flushing, and leave the toilet stall as quickly and safely as convenient. If you are helping a child, usher her out of the stall ahead of you. And at the risk of providing “Too Much Information,” but in the interest of avoiding exposure to an unknown bioaerosol, if possible, refrain from flushing a lidless public toilet that has been obviously used by someone else who has not flushed.

我們希望這些信息有助於您現在安全地在大流行期間安全地導航公共廁所，並進入未來。

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¹一微米是百萬分鍾的米。為了透視，人頭頭的直徑範圍為17至181微米。