Water insecurity compounds the global coronavirus crisis

Staddon, C.; Everard, M.; Mytton, J.; Octavianti, T.; Powell, W.; Quinn, N.; Uddin, S. M. N.; Young, S. L.; Miller, J. D.; Budds, J.; Geere, J.; Meehan, K.; Charles, K.; Stevenson, E. G. J.; Vonk, J.; Mizniak, J.

Abstract

In recent weeks, people all over the world have been settling into a ‘new normal’ of restricted mobility, online working, social distancing and enhanced hand hygiene. As part of the global fight against the spread of COVID-19 (the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2), we are repeatedly reminded by public health authorities that frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and water is one of the best ways of limiting transmission.Achieving clean hands is not difficult in wealthier households that have long enjoyed water services so reliable that they have stopped thinking much about it. But if handwashing is so important to the fight against COVID-19, what does this mean for the many people around the world who do not have access to a sufficient and secure supply of safe water to support this life-critical activity?

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Acceptance Date: Jun 9, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 9, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 9, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2021
• Journal: Water International
• Print ISSN: 0250-8060
• Electronic ISSN: 1941-1707
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 416-422
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2020.1769345
• Keywords: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law; Water Science and Technology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6017407
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rwin20; Published: 2020-06-09