While the use of masks and gloves has increased after the coronavirus pandemic, the throwing of many used masks and gloves onto the streets, mostly at public transportation stops, creates a danger to public health. Stating that if there is enough viral load on the mask and gloves thrown onto the ground, it can make the person holding it sick, Medical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Pınar Çıragil stated, “Definitely throw them in the closed trash cans. This situation around will be a very serious risk in terms of protecting public health.”

Masks Throw on the Street Carry Risk

Many citizens who want to be protected from the pandemic started to use masks and gloves for precautionary purposes. While the number of coronavirus cases continued to increase, it was noteworthy that gloves and masks worn as a precaution for the pandemic were thrown onto the streets. While it is seen that used masks and gloves are mostly thrown onto the ground around public transportation stops, these waste products also pose a danger in terms of hygiene in a period of coronavirus pandemic.

It Creates Danger For Hygiene

“We actually do not recommend the use of gloves. Because the glove gives a sense of confidence to the users. When you touch your hands, face, or eyes after touching a place with a glove, if there are enough virus particles to make you sick in the place you touch with the glove, you get them directly. In addition, those gloves are thrown away. So do not use gloves if possible. Surgical masks can only be used by patients with chronic diseases when entering closed places. If you touch the mask with your hand and touch another place, there is also a risk of contamination. When taking off the mask, remove it from the ropes and close the sides if possible when throwing it away. If they use a mask when going out, they should carry a bag and put it in when they take it off, or if they are leaving the hospital, there are definitely medical waste boxes at the exit of the hospital, we recommend they be thrown in the medical waste boxes. Because we do not know how many viruses are on the microorganisms in these masks and whether this viral load will contaminate the person holding it or not. We always say that we must comply with the rules of hygiene and cleaning, but while protecting ourselves, we face the risk of infecting the people who work for us and do the cleaning.”

Should be thrown into closed trash cans

Prof. Dr. Pınar Çıragil stated that if there is enough viral load on the masks and gloves thrown onto the ground, it can make the person holding it sick, and continued as follows:“When thrown onto the ground, if there is enough viral load on the mask thrown away, it can contaminate the person holding it and make him/her sick. Therefore, if you are sick, think you are sick, or if you live in the same house with a person suspected of Covid-19 and go out, you can wear a mask, but you should not throw it directly onto the road after taking it off. After all, you are leaving your homes, please take a bag if possible and throw it in that bag. When discarding, you should close them inwards from the sides and discard them like that. Because in this way, you do not transmit the virus particles inside at least to the outside. Definitely throw them in the closed trash cans. On the streets, I also sometimes see masks and gloves. We always say, 'don't leave the house, protect the community, follow the hygiene rules' and we try to do this, but this situation is really going to be a very serious risk for us in terms of protecting public health.”