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Washroom usage intervals to prevent Covid infection?: Academics divided on transmission rumour’s accuracy

17 Aug 2021

By Dinitha Rathnayake  Dismissing social media speculation about it being only advisable to enter a bathroom at least 15 minutes after the previous user, in the case the latter is Covid-19-positive, Medical Research Institute Consultant Virologist Dr. Jude Jayamaha claimed that there was no truth to such. Speaking to The Morning, Dr. Jayamaha said that this is because Covid-19 is only transmitted by the mouth or nose when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes. However, according to London Institute of Immunity and Transplantation and Health Services Professor and Clinical Immunology and Allergy Consultant Suranjith Seneviratne, it is advisable to maintain a reasonable time gap of 10-15 minutes between such visits to the bathroom when it involves an infected person and a non-infected person in the context of home quarantine. Dr. Jayamaha claimed otherwise, stating: “There are a lot of rumours with unnecessary details spreading these days which give wrong information to the public, thereby confusing them. It is our duty to correct them. There is no way Covid-19 can transmit through toilets, automated teller machines, used masks, or swimming pools.” “We cannot expect to have several toilets in each household that is under home quarantine, and people should know that Covid-19 will not transmit by using toilets or sharing food. If you eat food together without wearing a mask, then the virus would transmit from an infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe.” He also advised against reusing surgical face masks, while pointing out that it is alright to carry out daily routines with the infected person after 10 days of quarantine, since they are unable to transmit the virus thereafter. However, Prof. Seneviratne stated that in a situation where multiple persons are under home quarantine, where one or more of them are not Covid-19 positive, and using the same washroom, it would be better for the infected person/s to use the washroom last and to maintain minimal contact with the area. He added: “It is better to have a reasonable time between visits to the bathroom by an infected person and a non-infected person. Let the infected one go last and let them clean up afterwards. It is best to take at least a time interval of about 10-15 minutes before the others go, if they have to go second or third."  


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