THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Public Health directorate will be embarking on a sampling and testing programme, after it came to their attention that some retail outlets are allegedly using diluted sanitisers.
This announcement was made by the metro’s former acting mayor, Thsonono Buyeye, during a recent virtual media briefing. Buyeye said that they had received disturbing reports of non-compliance in certain malls and shops.
“At some shops you enter and there is no one at the door to make sure that you are sanitised properly. Where there is a person at the door, sometimes the sanitiser is diluted. Shops dilute sanitisers and it is a health risk for all of us.
“It is a serious issue and we need to enforce and come down on those that are found to be putting the lives of residents at risk. We don’t want to take this one lying down,” Buyeye said.
Public Health deputy director in the metro, Dr Patrick Nodwele, said that the week before Black Friday, they visited retailers to ensure that all COVID-19 regulations were in place.
“We went there for compliance monitoring purposes and the reports that came back indicate that some of the sanitisers used in the retail outlets may be diluted,” he explained.
“The workplaces’ regulations are quite clear on the quality that is required of a sanitiser and the etiquette that is required in those facilities.
“There is a certain texture and odour to a sanitiser based on the chemicals present. Once you walk into these facilities, you get sanitised and think that you have protection when, in actual fact, you may not have.
“In some instances, your trolley might be sprayed with a sanitiser and you are hoping that it is a correct sanitiser when, in actual fact, it is not,” he elaborated.
According to Nodwele, equipment is being purchased to test the sanitisers.
“We will be testing from the side of the manufacturers and suppliers, but will also take samples at the point of dispensing as you walk into the retail outlets on the spot.
“The equipment will help us receive results immediately. Laboratory testing will also be done as we will need lab confirmation for the purpose of prosecutions,” he added.
