Water, climate change, and COVID-19: prioritising those in water-stressed settings

Regular handwashing is strongly recommended to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which necessitates access to sufficient, safe, and affordable water in addition to that required for cooking, hydration, and general sanitation. Universal and equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is a critical public health issue and the focus of Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, over 50% of the global population lacks access to adequate sanitation, and 75% of households in low-income and middle-income countries are unable to wash with soap and water.