Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 28: Since the coronavirus pandemic has affected the country, the government has urged the public to compulsorily wear masks to protect themselves from getting infected from the ongoing coronavirus infection.

At the same time people are unaware of the requirements of disposal of masks and end up disposing them in the streets, bus stands and public places.

The disposal of masks in public places can be highly dangerous and increase the chance of spreading the infection. This is an urgent need of the hour for the public to undertake proper disposal of used masks and avoid disposing them in public places.

There are certain ways of mask disposal that have to be followed and avoid littering them in public places.

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, deputy medical superintendent KMC Hospital Attavar Dr Deepak Madi said, "Inside the hospitals, mask disposal is carried out in a right manner through bio medical waste and it will not be an issue. At home, we use cloth masks and wash them daily.

"Masks should not be thrown in public places as it is a very bad practice. It is at high risk if anyone touches it and the chances of spreading infection increases. Even rag pickers and beggars may reuse it. So it is better to keep it for 72 hours in a bin at your house or apply bleach over the mask and hand it over to corporation waste collecting personnel. But never throw it in public places. You can even cut the mask to prevent reuse," said Dr Deepak.

"We are unsure of the mask's effects on the soil. But in general, people do not know how to use the mask properly. We can see many people wearing masks on their chin wherein the mouth is exposed. Only 10 to 15 percent of people wear masks and after the use, litter them wherever they want," he added.

He further said, "Even wearing a wet mask is highly dangerous, the mask loses its power. If you are driving a two wheeler wearing a mask during rain, the mask will get wet and it is highly dangerous as it spreads infection."

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, district health officer Dr Ramachandra Bayari said, "Throwing masks in public places is highly dangerous. If a corona-positive patient throws a mask in a public place, the droplet in the mask is enough to spread and lead to more cases. Avoid throwing masks in public places and dispose of it in the right way. If masks are used by a family who are infected with coronavirus, then the disposal has to be done in a systematic manner by contacting nearby primary health care centres.

"Mask disposal should be done in the right manner like burning the mask applying bleaching solution. This is the best way of disposal," he said.

As per pollution board guidelines, "Waste mask and gloves in general households should be kept in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours prior to disposal of the same as dry general solid waste, after cutting the same to prevent reuse.”

Discarded PPEs from the general public at commercial establishments, shopping malls, institutions, offices etc should be stored in separate bins for three days and thereafter disposed of as dry general solid waste after cutting or shredding.