Pandemic Popularizes Touch less Fixtures.

• Position: PUBLIC RESTROOMS

Half of the population continues to use public restrooms during the pandemic. Some 13% of Americans say they completely avoid using a public restroom, while 50% visit restrooms just as they always have. Thirty-seven percent indicate that they were uncomfortable but had, at times, utilized a public restroom when necessary, according to Bradley Corporation's annual Healthy Handwashing Survey, which queried American adults regarding their public restroom usage, handwashing habits, and concerns about the coronavirus and flu. Participants were from around the country and were evenly split between men and women.

The most-common places where Americans use a public restroom are stores, restaurants, and their workplace. The majority who visit them take precautions to reduce their likelihood of coming in contact with germs: 63% employ a paper towel as a protective barrier when they operate the toilet flusher and faucet handles or reach for door handles. Alternately, some use their foot to flush the toilet or open and close doors with their butt.

Since Americans have relied on evasive measures to avoid germs in public restrooms, it is not surprising that 84% believe it is important...