The Union Health Ministry has asked the frontline health workers to not to dump eye protection goggles with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits, but reuse them at least five times each, whereby one pair of goggles will be sufficient for 6 days after proper disinfection.
This is likely to upset the frontline workers as they feel that it would leave them vulnerable to the contaminants of the gadget.
In its standard operating procedure, the Government said that aim is to enable individuals to reuse goggles used by them thus allowing an extended use without risk of contracting infection.
“The kitting of the PPEs with goggles will be done away with while all goggles that conform to prescribed EN/BIS specifications will be re-used after disinfection,” said the SOP.
Also, reprocessing and reuse of goggles must be done only when it is dedicated to each individual to be written over the band while manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and disinfection of goggles has to be adhered strictly.
The Ministry has on its part given details on the process of cleaning and disinfecting the goggles such as cleaning the gadget.
The Ministry said that eye protection must be discarded if damaged/rendered optically non-clear on repeated usage.
“Goggles may be issued to each health care worker, who will decontaminate them after every use. Goggles to be disinfected by users and re-used at least five times each, whereby one pair of goggles will suflice for 6 days. They may use them rationally till their transparency decreases or they get damaged. The ratio of issue of goggles to coverall is recommended at 1:6,” said the Ministry.
In another but related statement issued here, the Ministry said that it has provided 113.58 lakh N95 masks and 89.84 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the States/ UTs / Central Institutions.
“The testing capacity has increased in the country through 435 Government laboratories and 189 private laboratories (total of 624 labs). Cumulatively, 32,42,160 samples have been tested so far for COVID-19, whereas, 1,16,041 samples were tested on Tuesday.”
A total of 1,51,767 cases have been reported from the country in which 64,426 persons have been cured and the recovery rate is pegged at 42.4 per cent. The fatality rate is 2.86% whereas the world average is 6.36 per cent, said the Ministry.
