Used masks littering public areas draw ire of Singaporeans

In the face of the Covid-19 outbreak that has sickened over 100,000 people globally, many people now don a surgical mask as a means of protection when they head outside.

The disposal of their used masks, however, leaves much to be desired.

Over the past few weeks, photos of used masks mindlessly discarded around Singapore have roused much ire from netizens.

"How difficult is it to just throw them away properly in a rubbish bin?" a Stomp reader commented.

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A cleaner working at Marsiling Lane Food Centre told the Lianhe Wanbao's reporters on Saturday (March 7) of similar observations.

"Lately, while clearing bowls, I've noticed diners leaving used masks on the tables and on the ground. Just the other morning I threw away more than 10 of these used masks," the cleaner said.

According to a waiter that works in a shopping mall in the central region, he and his colleagues have also witnessed plenty of bad habits that could increase the risk of virus transmission.

"Many people wear disposable face masks. When they go to a restaurant or food centre, they will take off their masks. Most of them wear new ones after they're done eating, and leave their used masks on the table."

The 30-year-old elaborated on how these diners didn't seem to know how to dispose of their used masks properly. More often than not, the masks were left on tables with their inner sides facing outwards, which increases the chance of waiters and cleaners coming in contact with the potentially contaminated side.

"Wearing a mask is meant to protect everyone, but if the mask is improperly disposed of, wearing a mask won't help anyone!" he lamented.

PROPER HANDLING OF MASKS

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Last month, Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases physician at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital gave a detailed run-down on how to dispose of used face masks via a Facebook live-stream video.

In a demonstration, he emphasised on the importance of washing your hands before and after handling a mask.

Then, without touching the inner surface, carefully remove the mask and fold it inwards before tying it with the elastic straps. The mask should then be wrapped in tissue paper before being thrown away.

rainercheung@asiaone.com