COVID-19: urgent actions, critical reflections and future relevance of 'WaSH': lessons for the current and future pandemics.

COVID-19: urgent actions, critical reflections and future relevance of 'WaSH': lessons for the current and future pandemics. J Water Health. 2020 Oct;18(5):613-630 Authors: Howard G, Bartram J, Brocklehurst C, Colford JM, Costa F, Cunliffe D, Dreibelbis R, Eisenberg JNS, Evans B, Girones R, Hrudey S, Willetts J, Wright CY Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic placed hygiene at the centre of disease prevention. Yet, access to the levels of water supply that support good hand hygiene and institutional cleaning, our understanding of hygiene behaviours, and access to soap are deficient in low-, middle- and high-income countries. This paper reviews the role of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) in disease emergence, previous outbreaks, combatting COVID-19 and in preparing for future pandemics. We consider settings where these factors are particularly important and identify key preventive contributions to disease control and gaps in the evidence base. Urgent substantial action is required to remedy deficiencies in WaSH, particularly the provision of reliable, continuous piped water on-premises for all households and settings. Hygiene promotion programmes, underpinned by behavioural science, must be adapted to high-risk populations (such as the elderly and marginalised) and settings (such as healthcare facilities, transport hubs and workplaces). WaSH must be better integrated into preparation plans and with other sectors in prevention efforts. M...
Source: Journal of Water and Health - Category: Environmental Health Tags: J Water Health Source Type: research