Toilets dominate environmental detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in a hospital

Zhen Ding; Hua Qian; Bin Xu; Ying Huang; Te Miao; Hui-Ling Yen; Shenglan Xiao; Lunbiao Cui; Xiaosong Wu; Wei Shao; Yan Song; Li Sha; Lian Zhou; Yan Xu; Baoli Zhu; Yuguo Li

The detection of deposited aerosols on toilet-exhaust louvres suggests the possible existence of fine airborne aerosols in the bathroom. Three possible sources exist, i.e., exhaled release from the patients when using the bathroom, toilet-generated aerosols from faeces and urine when the toilets are flushed, and import of airborne particles from the cubicles where the patients spend most of their time. Ong et al 11 also detected SARS-CoV-2 in an air-outlet fan. Among surfaces in a patient ward, such as a bench, bedside rail, locker, bedside table, alcohol dispenser, and windowsill, Cheng et al 15 found that only the windowsill sample (1/13) was positive for SARS-CoV-2, while the viral load of the patients was 3·3  10 6 copies per mL in the pooled nasopharyngeal sample and throat swab and 5·9  10 6 copies per mL in saliva.