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Scientific Proven Testing to Help Public to Combat Coronavirus
Many rumors said that surgical masks could be re-used after steaming, boiling or poaching. It is understood that given the acute shortage, people try to maximize the durability of masks by all means. Yet, none of those boiling or cleaning methods being posted on the Internet can help with the re-using of surgical masks!
The recent global spread of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus has caused panic among the people of Hong Kong as well as panic buying of masks, cleaning products, and disinfectants. What exactly are coronaviruses? How does one avoid being infected? How should cleaning products such as hand sanitisers and bleach be used for the most effective elimination of the coronavirus? The Council invited a microbiologist to unravel the mysteries.
Wearing masks, performing sterilisation and washing hands have become part of our daily routine for combating recent epidemic. Many alcohol-based disinfectants were snapped up. However, consumers should be cautious when purchasing alcohol products for pharmaceutical use or alcohol-based handrub. It’s time for the Consumer Council to share with you some tips:
Facing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have been snapping up face masks, bleach products, rice and toilet paper from stores and supermarkets. As soon as the toilet paper were replenished, customers scrambled to buy even more.
Medical alcohol or alcohol hand rub have become scarce in the market in the light of the epidemic outbreak, yet industrial alcohol should never be used to make self-made hand rub as it is poisonous! Industrial alcohol contains impure methanol that may be taken in by human body through the skin, causing poisoning, nausea, body aches, blindness or impaired liver function, and even fatality!
Maintain U-shaped Traps in Drainage Pipes Properly!
Experts from the Mainland and Macau recently mentioned that the stool samples from patients of confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia were found to carry novel coronavirus. Some experts claimed that similar to SARS in 2003, the virus may survive in feces for up to 4 days.
For prevention of infecting COVID-19, many consumers opt to use bleach for routine cleaning and disinfection for households. Its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, denatures protein in micro-organisms and is therefore effective in killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, bleach should be used with caution. Improper use of expired bleach or mixing with other detergents not only reduces its effectiveness in disinfection but also causes the risk to your health! The Consumer Council provides 10 useful tips on the proper use of bleach.