Shanghai rolls out new public sanitation criteria amid epidemic

Shanghai is implementing new criteria for public sanitation, particularly for public lavatories, according to local news portal The Paper.

The new operation specification was launched on Feb 8, as an emergent measure during the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Cleaners will give the whole lavatory space cleaning and disinfection first thing when they come to work at 5 am, and before closing the door at 9 pm. During the opening hours the lavatories are cleaned and disinfected on an hourly basis. They will disinfect the toilet after each use too.

The new standard also required the removal of the paper bin placed by the toilet for male users.

These dustbins have widely been a temporary holder forused toilet paper, a common practice in public lavatories of China. The new standard demanded all dissolvable objects, such as toilet paper, should be flushed.

While the bin is reserved in the toilets for women, holding nothing but used feminine hygiene products, cleaners are required to line the bins with plastic bags, which will beremoved frequently, sealed firmly and disposed as special garbage.

"I've been a cleaner at Shanghai's public lavatories for 11 years, and this is the first time something like this happened," said GaoZhenfang, who is responsible for the sanitation of a public lavatory at 453 Yuyao Road in downtown Shanghai.

"I am a bit scared, too, so that repeated cleaning and disinfection helps me to feel safe," she said.

Lately scientists have detected the novel coronavirus in human feces. The public is told to remain highly cautious. People are trying not to use public lavatories, Gao said. The venue she was in charge of is located near a vegetable market, and is usually quite busy. "We used to receive 1,000-2,000 people every day, and now it is no more than 400," she said.