What is the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from the use of public toilets?

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 792; p. 148341
• Main Authors: Dancer, Stephanie J., Li, Yuguo, Hart, Alwyn, Tang, Julian W., Jones, Davey L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.10.2021
• Subjects: Aerosol transmission; Aerosols; airborne transmission; Bathroom Equipment; breathing; Communal washroom; COVID-19; environment; fomites; food retailing; Humans; Public health risk; public transportation; risk; risk assessment; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Toilet Facilities; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Aerosol transmission; Communal washroom; Public health risk

Public toilets and bathrooms may act as a contact hub point where community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs between users. The mechanism of spread would arise through three mechanisms: inhalation of faecal and/or urinary aerosol from an individual shedding SARS-CoV-2; airborne transmission of resp...