Why does this matter now? Jahandar points out that, while respiratory droplets are the main driver of the spread of COVID-19, there may be other sources of transmission to pay close attention to, given that SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus) can be found in urine and poop samples.
“Our results indicate that ensuring adequate ventilation in public restrooms is essential,” Jahandar says. “These relatively confined areas often experience heavy foot traffic and could pose a risk for widespread community transmission of various gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses.”
But infectious disease experts say you shouldn’t panic about your COVID risk within a bathroom just yet. Here’s what to keep in mind next time you have to use a public toilet.
Former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley jumped in the race for the open U.S. Senate seat this week, joining four other Democratic candidates. WFAE's politics reporter Steve Harrison had a quick conversation with Beasley to try to find out more about her.
If there’s a chance that you have COVID-19, it’s best to get tested before heading to your vaccine appointment. “We don’t want you coming in and infecting other people,” says John Sellick, D.O., an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo/SUNY in New York.
William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, agrees. “In the current environment where there’s so much COVID still being spread, wait until your illness has resolved, just to be safe,” he advises.
In addition to preventing the spread of COVID-19, you’ll also be doing yourself a favor: “If you have a stuffy nose and are feeling crummy, the vaccine could make you feel even crummier,” says Dr. Schaffner, who points to the typically mild but expected side effects of the vaccine.