RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates Recent studies have shown evidence of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in fecal matter, which raises the possibility that the virus could be transmitted though the use of shared toilets.Researchers behind a new study, published June 16 in the journal Physics of Fluids, used computer modeling of a toilet flushing mechanism.
It showed that when water pours into the toilet from one side and strikes the opposite side, it creates a vortex and displaces air in the bowl — which can contain fecal matter.
These vortexes move upward above the toilet, carrying droplets to a height of nearly 3 feet where they might be inhaled or settle onto surfaces.