In 2020, the entire world was rattled by an unforeseen pandemic. Since then, nearly every aspect of daily life has been turned upside down as people try and make sense of this “new normal.” In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, people have had to get creative and innovative. As a result, some interesting (and surprising) solutions have proven to be effective. Public toilets anyone?
Yup, you heard that right! A popular public restroom option might be helping cities and their citizens mitigate the spread of this stubborn virus. Although it’s not flushing away all of our worries, the Loo is definitely standing its ground and proving its value – even beyond its designated function. Here, we’ll take a look at how the Portland Loo is helping cities and the public fight back against the pandemic.
Its ventilated design helps to optimize airflow.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmissible through the air. As a result, the EPA has recommended people aim to increase “ventilation with outdoor air” within enclosed spaces, including bathrooms. Although most pubic restroom options have some sort of air filtration or ventilation, The Portland Loo is uniquely designed to help maximize the amount of outdoor air coming in and out. Madden Industries constructs the Loo with grates to allow air to flow freely through the unit. Furthermore, there’s a significant amount of open space in between the floor and the walls of the Loo which further maximizes air filtration. All of these specs combined work to optimize airflow and, as a result, limit the transmissibility of the virus.
The Loo is a public place where people can wash their hands.
When you’re out in public, it can be difficult to find a reliable place to wash your hands. As a result, people often resort to using hand sanitizer in order to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by touch. While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol, it explicitly states that “washing hands with soap and water is the best way to remove all types of germs and chemicals.” The Portland Loo is a great resource for cities to fight back against the virus because it provides an accessible place in public for people to wash their hands with soap and water.
It prevents people from having to use restrooms in shops or restaurants.
When nature calls, there’s really only one solution to the problem…and that’s going. But, when there isn’t a public option around, people are forced to walk into stores, restaurants, shops, and other public places to request to use their facilities. While this was nothing but an inconvenience in the past, it’s become potentially dangerous in the days of COVID-19. When attempting to limit the contact people have in public, forcing individuals to bounce around between stores just to use the restroom isn’t ideal for obvious reasons. With The Portland Loo, cities can easily offer a viable and dignified place for people to use the restroom in public while limiting their contact with others.
The Loo’s single-use design helps to limit contact between people in public.
Social-distancing has been shown to be an effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, public restrooms that accommodate multiple users make it significantly more difficult and sometimes impossible to achieve the desired six feet of distance. Fortunately, The Portland Loo avoids the problem of contact altogether with its single-occupant design. Although the Loo is large enough to accommodate multiple people (i.e. parents and their children), it has one door with a lock on the inside for maximum privacy. By limiting the number of individuals who can access a public restroom at one time, a city is effectively reducing contact between people.
The Portland Loo has been helping cities around the country provide a simple solution to a common problem. Now, in the midst of the pandemic, the Loo is proving to be an even greater asset than many could have imagined. If you’re interested in bringing a Loo or two to your city, local park, neighborhood, or transit station, feel free to contact us for more information about pricing and other details.
