STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – As the state’s coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions loosen, and we begin to venture out to parks, beaches and outdoor eateries -- it’s bound to happen to each of us: Eventually, we’ve all gotta go.
But, just how risky is a quick visit to a public restroom? And can you catch the coronavirus there?
Science tells us there’s no doubt that restroom surfaces are infected by touch -- we wipe with toilet tissue after using the toilet, then spread bacteria as we touch flush handles, walls, door latches and other surfaces before we get to the sink to wash our hands, all the while spreading viruses and bacteria.
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Yet, the current thought process is that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is not spread this way, said Dr. Philip Otterbeck, chief medical officer at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC).
Instead, it is thought to be primarily spread through the air, he said, making typical coronavirus precautions particularly critical when you use a public restroom.
“The mask and social distancing remain important, particularly within the confines of a bathroom, particularly a bathroom with poor ventilation,‘' Otterbeck said, noting that “plume,‘' the invisible mist of microscopic particles released into the air and onto surfaces when a toilet is flushed, poses a theoretical risk, since the coronavirus has been found in stool.
Though there’s been no hard evidence to suggest the coronavirus is spread through a toilet’s plume, Otterbeck said, using those precautions can only help. “Certainly, other viruses can be spread by that plume,‘' he explained.
If you can avoid a public restroom, it’s best, since several contagious viruses and bacteria are known to be present there, the doctor said.
But, don’t cut back on water consumption for fear of needing to use the restroom, he warns.
“Drink if you’re thirsty,‘' he said, noting that senior citizens are particularly at risk of dehydration because they often lose their sense of thirst.
If you must visit a public restroom, the doctor suggested several behaviors to reduce your risk of coming into contact with the coronavirus and many other hazardous viruses present in public toilets.
Here are his tips for using a public restroom as safely as possible:
- Always wear a mask.
- Always keep a safe distance from others.
- Avoid using cloth towels. If you’re in a private home or a more upscale public restrooms, towels may be available to dry your hands. Don’t use them, Otterbeck said. Choose, instead, paper or an electric dryer, if available. If you must touch a button to activate the dryer, use your elbow, he said.
- Don’t hover: “Hovering is generally a bad idea in a public restroom, since one’s aim not accurate and what could happen is that you could soil the toilet seat and expose other people to your bacteria and viral particles,‘' Otterbeck said.
- Don’t use the paper seat cover: “There really has not been hard data to suggest that these things act to block bacterial particles,‘' Otterbeck said. “Obviously, when you’re ready to flush, you’re touching that paper and touching the toilet with your hands. Hands have tendency to go toward the mouth, face.”
- Close the lid: If there’s a toilet lid present, close it before flushing the toilet (with your foot, if possible). If there is none, turn your face and step away from the toilet as soon as you flush, the doctor suggested.
- Wait a bit: If possible, wait three to five minutes before entering after someone exits the bathroom. “If there’s any plume, there’s some evidence that some particles may be aerosolized for a couple of minutes,‘' Otterbeck said.
- Don’t touch the door handle: Instead, use a paper towel to touch the handle on the exit door, in case the person who used the restroom prior to you left bacterial particles behind.
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