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New Delhi:
Disposal of biomedical waste together with PPE kits worn by healthcare professionals and public turned a problem through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Health Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
“As informed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), disposal of bio-medical waste including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit worn by healthcare professionals as well as general public became a challenge during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey mentioned.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MP Mahesh Poddar within the Upper House over the disposal of biomedical waste through the coronavirus disaster within the nation.
On being requested whether or not COVID-19 instances elevated amongst people employed in rubbish assortment and disposal, the minister mentioned the information isn’t maintained by the Centre.
“Public Health being a State subject, information relating to increase in COVID-19 cases among individuals employed in garbage collection and disposal, due to mismanagement in disposal of bio-medical waste including PPE kit etc., is not centrally maintained,” Mr Choubey mentioned.
Elaborating on the steps taken by the federal government for enchancment in biomedical waste disposal, the minister mentioned the CPCB has issued separate tips for his or her ”Handling, Treatment and Disposal.
These tips — on administration of coronavirus associated bio-medical waste together with used masks and gloves — had been initially issued on March 19 and later revised on July 17, he mentioned.
“As per CPCB guidelines, used PPEs, like face shields, goggles, hazmat suits, plastic coverall, used masks, head cover, shoe cover etc. generated from COVID-19 isolation wards at Healthcare Facilities shall be segregated and sent to Common Facilities for disposal as per Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMWM Rules).
“However, used PPEs, like masks and gloves generated in Common Households, Commercial Establishments, Institutions, and so forth., are required to retailer individually for a minimal 72 hours for disposal together with stable waste after reducing or shredding.
“Such shredded used masks from households can be collected as dry solid waste by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs),” the minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written response.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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