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Home (/) >> Pune (/pune) >> Coronavirus Pune: Citizens, NGOs question the use of disinfection tunnels

Coronavirus Pune: Citizens, NGOs question the use of

disinfection tunnels
ST CORRESPONDENT Wednesday, 15 April 2020

“ The citizens and NGOs are raising doubts about the disinfection tunnels/booths that are being installed in the
city against the backdrop of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
 ”
Pune: The citizens and NGOs are raising doubts about the disinfection tunnels/booths that are being installed in the
city against the backdrop of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Vrst disinfection tunnel was set up at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run Naidu Hospital. Since then, the
installation of such tunnels began at government oXces, hospitals and in residential societies. The disinfection tunnel
has nozzles that spray a disinfectant mist (sodium hypochlorite) on the person inside which reportedly kills most
germs and viruses. The manufacturing companies have claimed that it kills over 90 per cent of germs and viruses.

Clarifying this, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated in its myth busters that spraying alcohol or chorine all
your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes
or mucous membranes in eyes and mouth. Both alcohol and chorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces. However,
they should be used under appropriate recommendations.

Sodium hypochlorite is a component of commercial bleaches and cleaning solutions and used as a disinfectant in
drinking and wastewater puriVcation systems and swimming pools.

City-based NGO Creative Foundation, led by Sandeep Khardekar, has released a letter on the trend of installation of
such tunnels in the city and demanded to issue proper guidelines.

The letter stated that people are spending money to install such tunnels. Their costs vary from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.
He has referred to an order issued by the director of public health and preventive medicine, Chennai, which mentions
that a copy of WHO advisory is communicated to all deputy directors of health services for information and necessary
action.

A disinfection tunnel will create a false sense of security and people may not wash their hands after going through the
disinfection tunnel. Moreover, the spraying of alcohol/chorine/ Lysol on human beings is not only harmful but also
invective. Under the circumstances, it is instructed that disinfection tunnels should not be installed and used.

Concerns
Girish Gaikwad, a resident of Kharadi area, expressed his concerns to Sakal Times, "We are reading and watching the
news about the disinfection tunnel. Companies are donating and installing such tunnels in various parts of the city.
However, I have not found WHO guidelines or government order about its necessity and usefulness. Train
compartments, PMPML buses and police vans are being converted into disinfection tunnels. Is it really useful and
safe for people?"

Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad clariVed, "These tunnels are meant to supplement and not replace other
measures like washing hands regularly, maintaining proper hygiene, wearing a mask and maintaining social
distancing.

"Some countries are using disinfection tunnels at public places such as oXces. It has a scientiVc reason. But it doesn't
mean to avoid mandatory measures such as washing hands, use of masks and social distancing. There is a very small
percentage of sodium hypochlorite used in the sprays."

Pune continues to be one of the worst-affected coronavirus zones as the state infected toll nears 3,000. Overall, over
11,500 have been tested positive in India.

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