The Washington Post reported Tuesday on new research suggesting that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted through the air after a toilet is flushed. The Post reported that researchers at the University of Yangzhou in China recommend closing toilet lids prior to flushing after simulations showed that virus-containing aerosol droplets can enter the air from the activity.
Coronavirus has been observed in stool, but whether it can cause Covid-19 is not yet known, according to the Post. The Post quoted University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba, who said that “the risk is not zero, but how great a risk it is, we don’t know.”
Gerba provided suggestions to the Post to minimize risk, beginning with closing the toilet lid, including when at home, and making sure to wash and sanitize hands before leaving the restroom. Where toilets do not feature lids, Gerba emphasized the importance of exiting the restroom quickly. “Flush and run,” he said, telling the Post “I have my toothbrush too close to the toilet. I don’t want to brush my teeth with what’s in the toilet.”