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City of San Diego opens bathrooms for homeless during hepatitis A crisis

City of San Diego opens bathrooms for homeless during hepatitis A crisis
Posted at 7:42 AM, Sep 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-16 10:46:55-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - New bathrooms are in place downtown as San Diego deals with a hepatitis A outbreak that's affecting the homeless.

Four new portable restrooms are located at the intersection of First Ave. and C St. near City Hall.  Crews will clean them at least twice per day and they will be monitored with full-time security, according to a City spokesperson. A hand washing station is also in the area.

"The installation of more public restrooms is important to stop the spread of hepatitis A," said Jonathan Herrera, the City's Senior Advisor on Homeless Coordination. "This is one of many steps the City is taking to assist the County of San Diego in addressing this public health emergency."

RELATED: Customers at Pacific Beach restaurant may have been exposed to hep A

The City of San Diego currently operates 20 public restroom facilities downtown and plans to open more in the coming weeks.

City officials are encouraging downtown property owners to install portable restrooms on their lots.