BS RAWAT

The Indian Health Ministry has issued an advisory on the rational use of the special glasses which are the only part of PPEs that are reused while attending to Covid-19 patients.

The latest advisory says that all components of PPE kits are discarded after a single use, as bio-medical waste. However, eye protection goggles that conform to prescribed EN/BIS specifications can be worn at least six times after proper disinfection.

The advisory reads, “Goggles may be issued to each healthcare worker, who will decontaminate them after every use. Goggles to be disinfected by users and reused at least five times each, whereby one pair of goggles will suffice for six 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.”

“The purpose of this document is to enable individuals to reuse goggles used by them thus allowing an extended use risk of contracting infection,” it said.