buckbrush Loc: Texas then Southwest Oregon

Maybe I can stand near you Jerry and get the benefit of the air your arms are moving?? Naw, thinking about that, it wouldn't work, I'd violate the social separation distances!

Also, the more I consider the dirty air being circulated by those driers, it makes me wonder if a person who is sick, coughs or sneezes near them, then the drier becomes another device to spread germs far and wide.
I'd rather stores plumb those driers to outside air and stop recirculating dirty air.
In fact, I believe they should unplug the existing air driers until it's proven to not spread viruses.

Bill_de Loc: US

Folks sure do come up with things to worry about. Chicken Little must be proud.

The air coming out of the hand drier is in the air, whether you are the one using the drier or not. How long can you hold your breath?

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therwol Loc: USA

I've spent, or wasted about an hour researching this issue. It comes down to a battle between companies that make air hand dryers and the paper towel industry, and there is bias on both sides.

But here is a real issue. Food handlers who don't practice good hygiene can transmit disease to others through contaminated fecal matter. Hepatitis A is one example. Anyone with symptoms of a disease that can be transmitted through feces could also spread the disease through contact in a public restroom if the infectious agent is present in that restroom.

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/pdfs/pathogens-by-food-handlers-508c.pdf

I don't consider myself to be a "pathological" hand washer. I also see little or no need to wash my hands after urinating, since urine is sterile, and I'm not likely to get or pass on any disease in that instance. On the other hand, things like faucet handles and door handles could easily harbor bacteria or viruses deposited by previous users who don't wash and dry their hands thoroughly.

I appreciate touchless faucets. When presented with faucet handles in a public restroom, I turn them off with a dry paper towel instead of touching them after washing my hands. Sometimes paper towels are not available. If I have to pull on a door handle to exit, I also look for a paper towel to insulate between my damp hands from the handle. Again, sometimes paper towels are not available. There is no perfect solution.

I believe that the chances of becoming ill after using a public restroom are very small, but outbreaks of disease that can be traced to fecal matter getting into food in restaurants or in businesses that prepare food have been documented.

Stephan G

Um, that latch points right. Don't most male umm-hums swing left? (Statistically.)

Only the stream is basically free from germs and viruses. The outside genital areas are not so. So do wash your hands regardless. A thought: the flush handles have been touched by previous users. More reason to use toilet paper when pushing the activators.

Bill_de Loc: US

Many years ago, not during a time of any increase in medical issues, they put waste baskets by the doors in the restrooms. That was specifically for people who used paper towels to open the door. Prior to that they threw the paper on the floor.

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blackest Loc: Ireland

Gentlemen may I kindly ask you wtf you are doing in a public bathroom?
You are supposed to be at home keeping away from people who are likely infected.

If you are following the rules, hand dryers are not a problem.

buckbrush Loc: Texas then Southwest Oregon

Blackest, you bring up a good point and the answer is 'it depends on where you live'. Here in the country with little heavy population density it is very easy to keep at least 2 meters away from others. I find people also keep that far away from me as a matter of basic courtesy.

Unfortunately, when I am forced to use a public restroom, due to having prostrate cancer about 15 years ago and the radiation caused my bladder to lose its flexibility. The need to use the bathroom comes upon me suddenly and in a very painful way.

Something i never thought I'd ever have to explain but it may help you understand why some people still go about their limited activities if it does not affect anyone else.

therwol Loc: USA

Simple answer. Sometimes you have to go out to buy food, and sometimes you can't hold it for whatever reason. Your concern has to do with the present situation with the Coronavirus. I think that this is really a discussion about the issue in general. People should take care to leave public bathrooms with clean hands, and it isn't always easy at any time or any place.

blackest Loc: Ireland

I think it's fair to say , your health isn't the best, so you really shouldn't be risking your life, you could pick up covid 19 on all manner of surfaces even if the hand dryer is not a risk. At the moment here in ireland there are just 5 recovered and about 45 dead from Covid 19 Thats an insane 90% death rate. Two of them were Doctors, it is concerning there are so few recovered patients at this stage.

I think the way things are going you might be able to go back out in the 2nd week in june.