That stores have closed toilets - it's a problem isn't it?

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I've just found myself at a large DIY store bursting to go and find they've coded customer loos. I'm lucky I can hold it but not everyone can, right?

Toilets are hygienic.

Is that a joke as toilets inherently unhygienic? Toilets do not personally spread COVID, people do. In the midst of a highly contagious viral pandemic they need be cleaned more than usual or be operated under special guidance which not all operators can provide.

The message has been loud and clear about hand-washing. If we use a public loo and wash our hands what is the problem? If you aren't washing your hands after using the loo then I'd be more worried about norovirus than Covid-19

It’s the cleaning needed that is an issue. Shops don’t necessarily have the staff & resources to do it. I’d imagine bigger chains can do it, but not everywhere.

I agree it’s a problem.
I couldn’t believe the beach pictures weeks ago, given our biggest line of defence is singing happy birthday whilst washing our hands. Why would you go somewhere you can’t?

I just don’t go out to places or cut short a trip out

It's an issue that impacts women more than men- I'm housebound now on my period, as I don't know when I may flood, and no pad/tampon/clothes combo can contain it for long if it starts gushing.

To walk to the supermarket could mean I'm dripping blood all the way home, whereas I could change in the loos normally.

It's like everyone has forgotten that public toilets are a public health and feminist necessity.

It has led to some less than ideal nappy changes yes. Definitely limiting what we do. My bladder is good but in this heat and BF I drink a lot.

My local shopping centre has loos open, as does M&S. We went in a city break at the weekend and again M&S loos was open.

There is no realistic way to return to normal shopping habits for various reasons. Luckily I have realised my clothes shopping can mostly revolve around Primark, M&S and supermarket clothes.

Not ideal but it's another pain in arse consideration that means it's not practical or desirable to browse various shops in one day. Luckily I also drive.

It does mean some people can no longer go out and that is a valid PITA for them. I try to avoid taking my kids to the shops at all costs. I doubt they could cope

Yes this puts me off going out as I’m not sure where the toilets are or how long I’ll have to queue. I had to be hyper aware before but now I’m very uncomfortable out and about just in case.

We had a day out yesterday. I was worried about the availability of toilets so did limit what I was drinking. Couldn't find any open public toilets but there was a cafe with outside seating that had a customer toilet. Good coffee too! But I didn't find any that I could have used without being a customer.

Big problem and more so for women and children. I've had to cut days out short to go home for a wee and my toddler's had quite a few nature wees at the park where the toilets remain closed. If only I could get away with a nature wee too!

I wanted to use the loo in Tesco to wash my hands.

I was told they were shut for hygiene reasons.

Seemed ironic to me

My biggest concern re loos is the impact on those with continence issues etc.

This has caused me a lot of anxiety issues during lockdown. I always like to know where public loos are when I'm out and about. I have a bowel issue that means I sometimes simply can't wait. It's the uncertainty that worries me at the moment. Some toilets have reopened but many aren't. You can't just sneak into public buildings like libraries and leisure centres now. So worrying about when and where I can use a loo worries me to the point where it makes my symptoms worse. It's terrible really, what do these places expect people to do?

I bought a shewee as we had to do a 250 mile round trip for a funeral and it now lives in the car for exactly this reason

I live in Wales, and we are currently holidaying in a different part, not too far away. All public toilets are open as far as we have seen, including those at beaches.

Agree. It's also a massive equality issue, given that those worst affected are often the disabled, the very old, very young and women.

Our Sainsburys, Tescos and Asda all have open toilets now, luckily!

I agree @Stuckforthefourthtime. I do believe that if women made up the majority of government the cleaning and disinfecting of public toilets, I order to keep more open, would be of much higher importance.

It’s a total pain. I have a newly toilet trained toddler and I’m pregnant. Makes going out stressful.

Covid is not spread by toilets
That isn’t true. Covid can be spread via faeces. In fact someone can recover from Covid but still be shedding the virus in faeces a month later.

In fact someone can recover from Covid but still be shedding the virus in faeces a month later.

But we don't know if that viral shedding means they are infectious.

Reversing years of public health progress of provision of sanitary facilities, with in built hand washing facilities, feels counter productive, in a pandemic.

Its 2020 in a supposed civilised first world country and women can’t use a toilet when they need it.
Disgraceful.
And until public facilities are fully open a lot of people will not be shopping in town centres and helping the economy recover.
It can’t be that difficult to have suitably cleaned toilets surely. We can send men to the moon but I can’t have a wee if I go shopping!?

But we don't know if that viral shedding means they are infectious
In the absence of evidence to the contrary it seems sensible to assume that the virus could be spread that way. I certainly wouldn’t be willing to clean a public toilet right now, and would avoid using one if possible.

I recently went to Bletchley Park. They had outdoor portaloos in the car park. Admittedly they were nice ones, but anyone pregnant, big breasted, with limited mobility or overweight would have found it difficult to get in the doors.

In the museum there was a sign on the toilets next to the gift shop (ie on the way out when people might want to go to the toilet) saying "For your safety we have closed these toilets".

I would accept "for your safety we are cleaning the toilets more often" or "for your safety we are providing anti bac wipes", but no, they were just closed. How is that more safe?

I think there may have been other toilets inside and hopefully some for disabled people, but I hate the weasly double-think of the words on that sign.

Getting public toilets for women was a huge deal in Victorian times and allowed women more freedom. It's disgraceful that people's movements are being restricted like this.

I'm glad I'm not pregnant because I had to go every 5 minutes, but since having my son my bladder control isn't what it used to be even with kegels.

It's like they've shot themselves in the foot by making sure the pregnant, the elderly, the pre-K, the incontinent, and the disabled can't shop there, which is a large portion of the population.