Disposing of masks indiscriminately is fined 7 million: What is the right way to dispose of masks?

This is an automatically translated article.

Before the development of the COVID-19 epidemic, wearing a mask is a simple action that is highly effective in preventing disease. But wearing a medical mask properly, as well as removing a medical mask properly is something people often overlook.

1. Penalties for indiscriminately discarding masks

In order to limit the spread of COVID-19 disease in the community, WHO and Vietnam's Ministry of Health have recommended that people take the initiative to take preventive measures, including wearing medical masks properly. However, there is now a situation where people throw away masks indiscriminately, not in the right places, increasing the risk of causing environmental pollution and spreading disease.
Pursuant to the Government's regulations on sanctioning of administrative violations in the field of environmental protection, people can be "a fine of between VND 3,000,000 and 5,000,000 for acts of dumping, disposing or disposing of Domestic waste at the wrong place in the apartment, commercial, service or public place... A fine ranging from 5,000,000 VND to 7,000,000 VND for acts of dumping or disposing of household waste on sidewalks, streets or into the urban wastewater drainage system or the surface water drainage system in the urban area.”
Faced with that situation, the Ministry of Health suggested local specialized units to strengthen communication and guide people to wear and remove medical masks properly. In addition, there will be adequate arrangement of trash cans with tight-fitting lids in public places, at the same time, strengthening inspection and punishment for acts of indiscriminately discarding and disposing of masks.

2. Structure of medical masks

Regular non-woven medical masks have 3 separate layers for each use.
Outer layer Has water-repellent properties, effectively preventing liquid particles from splashing out when the patient sneezes, coughs, breathes... effectively. The outside is usually light blue, or some other common color for easy identification.
Inner layer Always white, easy to distinguish from the outside. Due to the close contact with the skin of the face, the fabric must be pure, smooth, and free of annoying and irritating hairs. In addition, the surface must also be waterproof to absorb sweat to create comfort for the user.
The middle layer has the effect of preventing liquid particles from splashing and filtering dust and bacteria. This is the part that determines the quality of the mask. A "standard" filter layer must be able to allow air to pass easily, creating ventilation for users, but must be structurally designed to filter dust and bacteria of extremely small size.
Covid-19 (size about 150 - 200 nm) and Influenza A virus (size 80 - 120 nm) mainly reside in large saliva droplets (size from about 75,000 - 360,000 nm). Therefore, these viruses can be easily captured by ordinary medical masks with the ability to effectively filter water particles over 5000 nm in size.

3. Who needs to wear a mask?

Medical staff who directly contact, care for and treat patients or suspected infections; Family members who care for or have close contact with a person with/suspected illness; People who have/suspected to have the disease, or have respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, runny nose,... All people who come to medical facilities.

Other healthy subjects do not need to use medical masks, but can be replaced with cloth masks to protect their health. Wash cloth masks daily with soap to reuse next time.

4. Wear a medical mask properly

Proper use of medical masks will prevent large droplets containing corona virus and flu from being thrown from sick people when they sneeze or cough. Instructions for wearing a medical mask properly to prevent nCoV infection are:
Use only once; When wearing a mask, the face must be green so that large droplets of saliva can fall; The white side is to turn inward, allowing the breath to escape into the mask; Full face mask, covering both the nose and mouth, pressing the aluminum clip close to the nose; Absolutely do not touch the front of the mask or edit the mask, because there is a risk of infection with viruses and other pathogens. Dispose of medical masks properly: After using medical masks, they should be immediately discarded in a trash can with a lid; When removing the mask, only hold the strap over the ear; Absolutely do not use the hand to handle the mask to remove, because it will infect the hands with viruses and other pathogens; Wash your hands with soap or rub with alcohol hand sanitizer after removing the mask

In short, when using a mask, be sure to cover your face (mouth and nose) and avoid touching the mask while it is on. The correct way to remove a medical mask is to only hold the strap over the ear. After removing the mask, immediately put it in a waste container with a tight-fitting lid and wash your hands. The use of masks needs to regularly combine personal hygiene, equipment and hand sanitizer.

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