What will restrooms look like in a post-COVID-19 world?
By Robert Kravitz
Park and recreation facilities, anxious to get their centers open and operating—safely—may be interested in an article published in The Washington Post in May 2020.
The article, titled “The need to go is a big barrier to going out. Why public bathrooms are a stumbling block for reopening,” suggests one of the main reasons people are concerned about going out during this pandemic is restrooms.
According to the author, Marc Fisher:
Whether it's the mall, restaurants, concerts, ballparks, or even drive-in movie theaters, Americans are making it clear: They won't be ready to go out to their favorite destinations until they feel confident about being able to go.
To the bathroom, that is.
The idea of a return to life in public is unnerving enough for many people. But it turns out that one of the biggest obstacles to dining in a restaurant, renewing a doctor's appointment, or going back to the office, is the prospect of using a public restroom—a tight, intimate, and potentially germ-infested space.*
Do you think restrooms are on parents’ minds when they consider sending their children back to park and rec centers? It is likely one of dozens of considerations—or worries—parents have today.
However, as in any crisis, even one as serious as this one, there are some unexpected silver linings. One is that restrooms are likely to change. Restrooms of the future are expected to be safer and healthier, with infection-control measures in place.
Also, restrooms of the future are expected to be far more sustainability-focused and incorporate cleaning protocols that are more thorough, effective, and potentially faster.