DOH calls for proper disposal of face masks, PPEs

The Department of Health is appealing to the public to responsibly dispose face masks and PPEs to minimize the spread of COVID-19. File photo shows a used surgical face mask left on a street in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is appealing to public, as well as health care facilities, to properly dispose personal protective equipment such as face masks to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday pointed out that medical waste should be properly labeled and that there are specific collection time frames.

“Kailangan properly segregated, it is marked and labeled  na healthcare waste siya at mayroon sariling schedule sa pagkoleta ng healthcare waste at mayroon tayong specific na pinagtatapunan nitong mga waste materials na ito,” she said in an online forum.

(The waste should be properly segregated, it should be marked and labeled and it has its own collection schedule and disposal area.)

If not done properly, garbage collectors run the risk of being infected by the novel coronavirus, Vergeire warned.

“Itong mga mask at kung ano pang waste sa daan, pag pinulot yan ng ating garbage collectors and they are not wearing their industrial gloves, maaari silang mahawa pag hinawakan nila yung mukha nila,” she said.

(These masks could infect garbage collectors if they are not wearing their gloves and they touch their faces.)

She urged local government units to monitor the disposal of medical wastes.

As of September 27, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 304,226 with 252,510 recoveries and 5,344 deaths.

gsg