Cutting the used face masks, gloves prevents illegal trafficking in medical waste: Minister

CAIRO - 5 May 2020: The used face masks and gloves should be cut before being disposed of, in a bid to prevent passing the novel Coronavirus (C0VID-19) to the garbage collectors, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Environment Yassmine Fouad.

In remarks to 9:00 PM talk show on the state-owned T.V., the minister called on people to wash the used face masks and the gloves with water and soap and then be cut before being disposed of to prevent reusing or trafficking in the used masks.

“Garbage collectors exert a great effort, not less than the efforts of others [...] to preserve their lives, precautionary and medical measures must be taken,” she said.

In April, an environmental campaign “Live Green,” launched by the Ministry of Environment asked people to follow certain hygienic measures concerning the used face masks and gloves, publishing a promotional video to increase the awareness of this hygienic measure.

The campaign said that the used gloves and face masks should be washed with water and soap for 20 seconds, and then be cut into small parts to prevent re-using them. Finally, it is safe to dispose of them inside a plastic bag.