Coronavirus spread may force rethink of public toilet soap dispenser removal, expert says

The removal of soap dispensers from public toilets has stoked concerns local councils are washing their hands of a simple and effective way to help to halt the spread of coronavirus. Key points: Local councils have been removing soap from their public toilets to prevent crime since 2010 Food Safety Information Council has called on soap to return to public toilets and for better education about the importance of hand washing When surveyed 1 in 5 Australians said they do not wash after using the toilet Since 2010, councils have been removing soap from their public amenities because of concerns about vandalism. Normal soap is just as good as antibacterial soap Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, including the back of your hands and between your fingers Rub hands together for a further 20 seconds Rinse hands, making sure you remove all soap Turn off tap using the towel or paper towel Dry your hands thoroughly with a paper towel, a clean hand towel or an air dryer if you are in a public toilet Source: healthdirect.gov.au "These principles have been adopted to help lessen the incidences of crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and to increase levels of safety for users of these facilities," the spokesperson said. Townsville City Council's Public Toilet Standard, published in 2015, also advised soap and hand-drying facilities "will not be provided in public toilets as a result of potential vandalism and safety risk".