More mobile toilets planned as public loos add to virus cases

In a meeting held at Ripon Buildings a few days ago, the officials had observed that the virus spread has been fast in those areas where households do not have individual toilets, forcing them to use the common public toilets.

“During the meeting, the senior officials directed the field officials to ensure frequent cleaning and disinfection of the public toilets, not only in the containment zones but also across the city,” a source said.

When contacted, a senior official said instruction has been given to zonal officials of all the 15 zones to procure additional mobile toilets. Meanwhile, the source added that the virus might have spread when the infected touch the taps or spit inside the toilet.

While scattered cases of people contracting the virus from public toilets have been reported from across the city, the civic body had observed that some residents in Ambattur got infected after failing to follow social distancing norms.

When asked, a Metrowater engineer clarified that the virus could not spread from drinking water or sewage and clarified that the drinking water supplied by the Metrowater is being disinfected using chlorine.

However, the civic body has requested the water manager to stop supplying drinking water in containment areas by tanker lorries and asked to install more tanks inside such areas. The civic body had also directed officials to conduct regular inspections in public places like supermarkets and instruct the owners to switch off the air-conditioners.