Spread of Virus COVID-19 suspected can occur through the pipe Toilet

cungkring.com: The process of transmission of COVID-19 is still clearly a research object. However, after the discovery of two positive patients infected with a COVID-19 in an apartment in Hong Kong, there was a suspected that the spread of the virus could occur through the drain pipes in the toilet. Is that true? See the explanation below.

Preliminary alleged spread of COVID-19 through water pipes

More than 100 residents living in Tsing Yi area, Hong Kong, have been evacuated and quarantined. The action was done after a woman aged 62 years became a second person who was positively infected with COVID-19 in the apartment building Hong Mei House.

The woman lived 10 floors under the first infected occupant. Since both patients had never communicated or made skin contact before, there was a suspected that the spread of COVID-19 occurred through building infrastructure such as water pipes.

What's more, according to the report, both patients live in the same vertical block. This means, both patients share the same toilet pipe network. The water pipe in the bathroom of the woman's residence that becomes the patient is also not closed.

The alleged virus transmission scheme between the two patients is uncertain and still requires further investigation. However, the spread of COVID-19 through the plumbing is not impossible. In fact, investigations on the spread of viruses through the pipeline have also been done when the SARS virus was spread in 2003 ago.

Virus spreading scheme through aqueduct pipes

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, investigations carried out in an apartment called Amoy Gardens found great possibilities for the transmission of SARS virus resulting from the leaking of water pipes in the toilet.

It can happen because the corona-type SARS virus can enter into feces or other impurities. The pipes carrying the waste are closed and separated. When the pipe has a leak, then the droplet will make people exposed. Later, residual impurities that contain the virus can be an aerosol that will spread to the surrounding air.

Another cause is the damage to the U pipe that is in the aqueduct in the toilet or sink. Usually the channel in the toilet has a U-shaped pipe that serves to hold water that will prevent microbes and bacteria coming out of the stool. This form also prevents the bacteria in the pipeline from going out and polluting the toilet.

This pipe is connected to a drain pipe that will sweep waste from toilets, sinks, and other drains. The exhaust pipe must be ventilated to ensure gas and odor of the channels are carried out. Ventilation pipes will also give pressure that keeps waste flowing.

Whereas in the case of transmission of SARS in Amoy Gardens, the U pipes are connected on the channel in an empty state so that the pipe can not dispose of feces. Consequently, unwasted gases and impurities can be held on the U pipeline and make it into the housing and spreading the virus.

Spread of viruses through aqueduct pipes becomes a concern

Indeed, the case of the virus spread of COVID-19 and SARS through plumbing does not necessarily be likened to. Transmission in this way is also not a common thing. The way to transmit the most common corona virus is through droplets or particles generated when a person coughs or sneezes.

However, the state of damaged sanitary pipes can also add to the likelihood of someone to get infected. Inadequate pipe state has been one of the contributors to the SARS spread in residential buildings in Hong Kong.

Therefore, maintenance by reviewing and updating standards in building practices and sewage systems is essential. The community is expected to consider the environmental hygiene factors and choose a design that complies with the standards so as to control the transmission of viral diseases.

Indeed, the spread of COVID-19 through the pipeline is very unlikely, in Indonesia itself also has not been confirmed cases. But keep in mind, there are still a lot of viruses and other bacteria that can lurk you.

The bathroom is one of the places that is the center of the gathering of various types of germs. The germs are also scattered in some parts of the bathroom, such as a sink and toilet surface. Maybe you can still do prevention by cleaning the bathroom periodically.

Another one if you go to the public toilet, no one can guarantee that the toilet is really clean and free of germs. Here are some steps to be able to minimize the contagious disease:

Wash hands properly every before and after finished from the bathroom.

Cover your hands with tissues when turning off the faucet, opening the door, and touching the toilet sprinkler button.

Clean the toilet stand with tissue and cover with new tissue

Use a hand dryer by not attaching a hand to a drying machine because it will instead make the hand contaminated.