Coronavirus concerns stir debate over habits in men's restrooms: 'Were men not washing their f***ing hands?!’
People around the globe are grappling with the effects of coronavirus, and the widespread fear of the illness. But, one good thing to come out of the caution surrounding the disease in the U.S. might just be a culture change in the men’s bathroom.
Due to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people everywhere are taking extra time (20 seconds, to be exact) to make sure that they’re washing their hands. But while few women have commented on the increased sink time, men are taking to Twitter to joke about the long lines and full sinks they’re seeing — many, troublingly, for the first time.
“For once lines in men’s restrooms, as coronavirus makes men wash their hands for the first time,” a writer for the Daily Show tweeted. “Hmm didn’t realize until coronavirus how shocking it is to walk into a public men’s room and see all the sinks actually being used,” another comedian added.
hmm didn’t realize until coronavirus how shocking it is to walk into a public men’s room and see all the sinks actually being used
— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) March 5, 2020
For once lines in men’s restrooms, as coronavirus makes men wash their hands for the first time.
— Dan McCoy (@dankmccoy) March 5, 2020
Men’s bathrooms are insane ever since we’ve been forced to wash our hands. One man is in here completely nude bawling his eyes out because he can’t figure out what to do. Another is lying face down on the floor completely motionless. Unclear how long he’s been here. Pandemonium.
— Tyler Schmall (@tylerschmall) March 6, 2020
Those who weren’t aware of the lack of handwashing, however, are expressing upset and disgust.
I read a tweet that said there were longer lines for men’s restrooms now because men were actually washing their hands because of the virus and legit this is why men deserve 0 rights
— tal (@fleetwoodsugar) March 5, 2020
Despite the shock, men not washing their hands reportedly isn’t new.
According to data from 2009 cited by the CDC, only 31 percent of men wash their hands after using a public restroom, as opposed to the 65 percent of women who do so. Suzanne Willard, Ph.D., a clinical professor and associate dean for global health at the Rutgers School of Nursing, assures Yahoo Lifestyle that there’s more research to support those numbers.
“Can’t say that I frequent men’s bathrooms to know exactly what they do, however, there is lots of research out there that states that men don’t do this,” Willard explains. “Bacteria and virus' are everywhere and everywhere you touch you pick up more and transfer it to your face, to others etc. So, heading to the urinal, flushing it brings you in touch with all of the people who have used that before you. Good to leave the germs there by washing your hands.”
Willard explains that women aren’t off the hook, as they tend to wash their hands “but still not enough.”
As one Twitter user points out, the push for everyone to be diligent about handwashing during this cautionary time goes to show that men likely haven’t been spending enough time in the bathroom.
It's not that women take too long in bathrooms, it's that men aren't in there long enough.
— Stephen Boatright (@stevieboatleft) March 5, 2020
Others point out that men are finally realizing that germs are something to be fearful of.
I think this is a good time to let you know that I became obsessed with proper hygiene as a young kid after reading a book with creepy pictures of germs, and TO THIS DAY, other men see me WASHING MY HANDS LIKE A HUMAN and call me a "germaphobe."
— Mazeltov Cocktail 🍹 (@Arithered) March 5, 2020
My local store is sold out of hand sanitizer. When I spoke to a staff member, he said it was mostly men stocking up. It’s like they suddenly figured out that dirty hands are gross.
— “Why are you so angry?” (@camidlifecrisis) March 5, 2020
And while the CDC has launched a national handwashing campaign to “motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives,” public health crisis or not, some have joked that men shouldn’t be notified once a coronavirus cure comes since it seems to be the only thing that’s gotten them to wash their hands.
Pretty rad to think we're really only ever a few hundred men running the bathroom sink pretending to wash their hands away from a global pandemic.
— John Schroeck (@ShrekJohn) March 6, 2020
Alas, the only time it is safe to shake a man's hands is, ironically, during a pandemic.
— Glenn Loury 2.0 Darker, Gayer, Different (@justabloodygame) March 5, 2020
If a coronavirus cure comes, don't tell men. They'll continue washing their hands.
— Going Rampant (@goingrampant) March 5, 2020
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Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Multiple states have declared a ‘state of emergency’ over coronavirus — here’s what that means
Chipotle, McDonald’s and Starbucks share coronavirus protocol to protect employees, customers
Scientists debunk coronavirus conspiracy, say it 'threatens to undermine' global efforts to stop it
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