As the coronavirus pandemic continues, transportation officials around the world have sought ways to keep passengers and crew on board aircraft safe.

On November 25, China's Civil Aviation Administration issued new guidelines for the country's airline industry.

The document, entitled "Technical Guidelines for Epidemic Prevention and Control for Airlines, Sixth Edition", contains advice on best hygiene practices to be performed on airplanes and airports.

One suggestion was that "staff members use diapers so you don't have to go to the bathroom."

The section starts by advising the cabin crew to wear "medical masks, double-layer medical gloves, goggles, hats, protective clothing and shoe covers".

The next sentence says:

"It is recommended to wear diapers and avoid using the toilets to avoid the risk of infection."

While such advice may seem dramatic, it is no secret that toilets can be a source of infection on an airplane.

In August, a woman traveling from Italy to South Korea became infected with the coronavirus during her trip and a visit to the spa, the only place she did not have an N95 mask, was named as a possible source of her infection.

Japanese airline ANA announced earlier this year that it was testing a prototype of a new toilet, the door of which opens without hands.

Boeing, meanwhile, has successfully applied for a patent for a "self-cleaning toilet" that uses UV light to clean 99.9% of bathroom germs after each use.

Materials from CNN were used to make this article