COVID Corner (CO-08)– by Crystal Malchose, PIO Pottawatomie County
This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.
Someone in my home has tested positive for the Coronavirus. What is the best way to properly dispose of the supplies used in caring for him or her?
The last thing anyone would want to do is inadvertently spread the disease to others through unsafe cleaning practices. Other household members and sanitation workers are best protected when disposable waste used by the patient is handled correctly. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment shares the following information:
v Place a plastic trash bag near the patient;
v Discard all disposable patient waste in that dedicated trash bag immediately after use;
v Securely seal the bag and place in the household trash bin;
v Replace the trash bag frequently;
v Anyone who handles the trash bag, or any of the waste associated with it, should thoroughly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water immediately after exposure.
Household members and sanitation workers who follow their routine safety procedures can handle this refuse without additional harm.
How do I find out which disinfectants are effective against COVID-19?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website provides information on how to identify cleaning agents that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against the virus that causes COVID-19: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19. If you cannot find a product on that list, the EPA advises to “look at a different product’s label to confirm it has an EPA registration number and that human coronavirus is listed.”