Speaking on the Coronacast podcast Dr Norman Swan said people should avoid farting near one another to stop the spread of coronavirus. He added it was everyone’s responsibility not to pass wind close to another person and “that you don’t fart with your bottom bare”.

The unusual discussion came after the government revealed on Friday it would be testing local wastewater as part of an ongoing monitoring and early warning system for coronavirus outbreaks…It’s been found that people infected with coronavirus shed fragments of the virus in their faeces and this can be detected in wastewater.

Responding to the question about farts, Dr Swan said clothing provided some protection from coronavirus, like a mask…“We wear a mask that covers our farts all the time,” Dr Swan said, referring to people’s underpants and clothes.

Who knew?