NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked the Center on Monday why it has not banned the use of tunnels to disinfect people for Covid-19 despite assuming that spraying chemical disinfectants is physically and psychologically harmful.
A bank headed by Judges Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah was informed by Attorney General Tushar Mehta that the Ministry of Health has not issued any notice or guideline on the use of ultraviolet lights for the disinfection of humans for the handling of the Covid-19.
He said that spraying any chemical sanitizer is also physically and psychologically harmful to humans.
The bank then asked the SG that when the use of disinfectant tunnels is bad, then why did the Center not prohibit it.
Mehta said appropriate instructions will be given in this regard.
The bank was listening to a PIL presented by one Gursimran Singh Narula, who has requested instructions from the Center to immediately prohibit the installation, production and advertising of disinfection tunnels that involve spraying or fumigating chemical disinfectants on humans.
The motive has also called for an immediate ban on fumigating or spraying organic disinfectants and exposing humans to ultraviolet rays in order to disinfect them.
In its affidavit, the Center stated that since public health and hospitals are subject to the state, it is up to the states / territories of the Union to implement the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the role of the government of India is It limits itself to providing the necessary guidance and financial support.
He said that on June 9, a meeting of an expert committee was held under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Health Service to review the use of disinfectant tunnels, various chemicals and disinfectant spray along with the effectiveness of said use of spray / mist.
The Center said the committee has reiterated that spraying people with disinfectants (such as tunnels, cabinets, archways) is not recommended as it would not diminish the infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact.
The affidavit, filed by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), said the committee further noted that spraying disinfectants in medical and non-medical settings is not recommended.
“It was also observed that indoors, the routine application of disinfectants to environmental surfaces by spraying or misting (also known as fumigation or misting) is not recommended for Covid-19, as disinfectants may not be effective in removing organic material. and surfaces protected by objects, folded fabrics or intricately patterned surfaces can fail, ”he said.
The committee has stated that it is also not recommended to spray or fumigate outdoor spaces, such as streets or markets, to kill the Covid-19 virus or other pathogens because the disinfectant is inactivated by dirt and debris and it is not feasible to clean and remove manually. . all organic matter in those spaces, said the affidavit.
“Even in the absence of organic matter, chemical spray is unlikely to adequately cover all surfaces for the contact time required to inactivate pathogens. Also, streets and sidewalks are not considered infection reservoirs for Covid-19. Also, spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be detrimental to human health, “he said.
The Center said that it had become aware of media reports that people were being sprayed / nebulized with chemicals and / or exposed to such chemicals through access tunnels and after that they were convened a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (body of experts) on April 8.
At the meeting it was recommended, “It is not recommended under any circumstances to spray disinfectants on humans. Spraying any chemical sanitizer is physically and psychologically harmful. Also, the chemicals are harmful to human skin and the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, if necessary, ”he said.
External spraying of any chemical disinfectant does not kill a virus that has already entered the body of a person, who has previously been exposed to the virus, the Center said.
“It is evident that the respondent responding nowhere issued any advisories / guidelines / SOPs for the use, installation, production, advertising of disinfection tunnels involving the spraying or fumigation of chemical / organic disinfectants for the purpose of disinfecting humans in the workplace / office / public places / external environments, ”he said.
The Center said that even the ‘National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities’ listed that disinfectant fogging is not recommended for routine patient care areas.
“It was also prescribed that fumigation and nebulizer have no role in the operating room because formalin fumigation is dangerous for people and can also damage sensitive equipment,” he said.
A bank headed by Judges Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah was informed by Attorney General Tushar Mehta that the Ministry of Health has not issued any notice or guideline on the use of ultraviolet lights for the disinfection of humans for the handling of the Covid-19.
He said that spraying any chemical sanitizer is also physically and psychologically harmful to humans.
The bank then asked the SG that when the use of disinfectant tunnels is bad, then why did the Center not prohibit it.
Mehta said appropriate instructions will be given in this regard.
The bank was listening to a PIL presented by one Gursimran Singh Narula, who has requested instructions from the Center to immediately prohibit the installation, production and advertising of disinfection tunnels that involve spraying or fumigating chemical disinfectants on humans.
The motive has also called for an immediate ban on fumigating or spraying organic disinfectants and exposing humans to ultraviolet rays in order to disinfect them.
In its affidavit, the Center stated that since public health and hospitals are subject to the state, it is up to the states / territories of the Union to implement the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the role of the government of India is It limits itself to providing the necessary guidance and financial support.
He said that on June 9, a meeting of an expert committee was held under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Health Service to review the use of disinfectant tunnels, various chemicals and disinfectant spray along with the effectiveness of said use of spray / mist.
The Center said the committee has reiterated that spraying people with disinfectants (such as tunnels, cabinets, archways) is not recommended as it would not diminish the infected person’s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact.
The affidavit, filed by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), said the committee further noted that spraying disinfectants in medical and non-medical settings is not recommended.
“It was also observed that indoors, the routine application of disinfectants to environmental surfaces by spraying or misting (also known as fumigation or misting) is not recommended for Covid-19, as disinfectants may not be effective in removing organic material. and surfaces protected by objects, folded fabrics or intricately patterned surfaces can fail, ”he said.
The committee has stated that it is also not recommended to spray or fumigate outdoor spaces, such as streets or markets, to kill the Covid-19 virus or other pathogens because the disinfectant is inactivated by dirt and debris and it is not feasible to clean and remove manually. . all organic matter in those spaces, said the affidavit.
“Even in the absence of organic matter, chemical spray is unlikely to adequately cover all surfaces for the contact time required to inactivate pathogens. Also, streets and sidewalks are not considered infection reservoirs for Covid-19. Also, spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be detrimental to human health, “he said.
The Center said that it had become aware of media reports that people were being sprayed / nebulized with chemicals and / or exposed to such chemicals through access tunnels and after that they were convened a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (body of experts) on April 8.
At the meeting it was recommended, “It is not recommended under any circumstances to spray disinfectants on humans. Spraying any chemical sanitizer is physically and psychologically harmful. Also, the chemicals are harmful to human skin and the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, if necessary, ”he said.
External spraying of any chemical disinfectant does not kill a virus that has already entered the body of a person, who has previously been exposed to the virus, the Center said.
“It is evident that the respondent responding nowhere issued any advisories / guidelines / SOPs for the use, installation, production, advertising of disinfection tunnels involving the spraying or fumigation of chemical / organic disinfectants for the purpose of disinfecting humans in the workplace / office / public places / external environments, ”he said.
The Center said that even the ‘National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities’ listed that disinfectant fogging is not recommended for routine patient care areas.
“It was also prescribed that fumigation and nebulizer have no role in the operating room because formalin fumigation is dangerous for people and can also damage sensitive equipment,” he said.
.
