As our nation and the world battle against COVID-19 some experts claim that putting the lid down on the toilet after using and before flushing needs to be done to help prevent the virus from spreading.

WNBF News/Roger Neel Photo
WNBF News/Roger Neel Photo
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According to an article written for Forbes by Alexandra Sternlicht scientists are warning that "aerosolized feces" can spread COVID-19.

In the article Sternlicht writes that because of a phenomenon known as "toilet plume" particles of stool or urine can become airborn when you flush the toilet after use. Professor Qingyan Chen from Purdue University says an easy way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to close the lid on the toilet before flushing. Chen was quoted as saying that "80 percent of particles that escape from fecal matter can be prevented by closing the lid when flushing."
Also in Sternlicht's article it is reported that a toilet flush with the lid up could unleash up to 80,000 polluted droplets and leave them suspended in the air for hours.

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Experts point out that hand-washing is still a huge key in preventing the Coronavirus spread. This certainly is extremely important always but more so at this time. It is suggested that you use a paper towel, toilet paper or tissue if you need to use the handle to flush.

While these procedures can certainly help another issue concerns toilets in airports, hotels and other large gathering areas. That's the use of toilets with no lid or motion activating flushing where the toilet flushes automatically. No applicable research data was found to combat the issue.

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