WHO Technical Brief: Water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management for COVID-19

interim guidance 29 July 2020

This Technical Brief supplement these IPC documents by referring to and summarizing WHO guidance on water, sanitation and health care waste which is relevant for viruses (including coronaviruses). This Technical Brief is written in particular for water and sanitation practitioners and providers. It is also for health care providers who want to know more about water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) risks and practices.

Provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions play an essential role in protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 outbreak. Good and consistently applied WASH and waste management practices, in communities, homes, schools, marketplaces and health care facilities will further help to prevent human-to-human transmission of COVID-19.