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San Diego's "waterman" advocates for restrooms to help end hepatitis A crisis

Posted at 6:21 PM, Sep 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-13 21:36:13-04

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Sixteen people are dead and hundreds are still hospitalized as the City of San Diego continues to battle a Hepatitis A. The majority of them are homeless.

Tents belonging to the homeless were back up in downtown just two days after the city sprayed down streets and sidewalks to control the outbreak. 

David Ross is known as "the waterman" in downtown. He is an advocate for the homeless and regularly passes out water to those living on the street. He thinks the city could have prevented the homeless outbreak by installing portable bathrooms. 

RELATED: San Diego adding 3 new homeless shelters, look to curb hepatitis A outbreak

Hepatitis A spreads by person to person contact. Right now, the homeless don't have a place to wash their hands or go to the bathroom. Ross thinks the problem will continue until people have a place to wash their hands. 

10News reached out to the city about the possibility of installing portable restrooms and this is what they said via email:

"The City is also working on viable locations for additional restrooms and will publicize them to help ensure all community members know of their options. For example, it is anticipated that 4 portable restrooms will be placed at the corner of C and First at City Hall by close of business Friday. We will have a firm answer on that by tomorrow (Thursday)."

RELATED: Helen Woodward Animal Center joins push to house San Diego homeless with tents