People work in a restroom in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, Feb 8, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

The Guangdong health commission has issued new toilet hygiene guidelines for the prevention of novel coronavirus infections after the discovery of the virus in a patient's stool sample in the province.

Apart from daily hygienic work, the guidelines advise restrooms be ventilated at least twice a day and at least half an hour each time, and that surfaces of things in the room be cleaned and sterilized, said Zhou Zixiao, deputy director of the commission, at a press conference in Guangzhou on Friday.

The cover should be closed when the toilet is flushed, and used toilet paper should be flushed instead of being put into a bin.

The pipes of the toilet should not be blocked or have leaks.

Hands should be washed immediately after contact with fecal matter, the guidelines stressed.