Proceedings of the Environmental Science and Technology International Conference (ESTIC 2021)

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Medical Waste Management in Korea’s COVID-19 Response

Authors
Kim Jun ho1, *, Kim Soon-ok1, Lee Seong-han1, Lee Yun-jin1, Kim Ryunghwa1
1Waste information management division, Korea Environment Corporation, Incheon, South Korea
*Corresponding author. Email: Kjh9601@keco.or.kr
Corresponding Author
Kim Jun ho
Available Online 1 November 2021.
DOI
10.2991/aer.k.211029.006How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Medical waste; COVID-19; RFID; special management; measures
Abstract

Medical waste is an infection hazard for humans and requires management according to stricter standards than other types of waste. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, medical waste management to the strictest of standards must take place. Since 2008, real-time medical waste management systems using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology have been developed, installed, and operated in Korea. To date, Korea is the only country in the world to have implemented this technology. The Korean government has also implemented a crisis management model designed for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and as an effective response to the pandemic. The three components of this model are: drive-thru and walk-thru screening; operation of community treatment centers for the treatment of mild cases; and operation of temporary living facilities for the self-quarantining of people entering Korea from abroad. Since the early stages of the pandemic, the Korean Ministry of Environment has been implementing special management measures for maximum safety in the management of the medical waste resulting from “K-quarantine” activities. A key aspect of these special management measures is the same-day discharge, transport, and incineration of the medical waste produced by COVID-19 patients.

Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the Environmental Science and Technology International Conference (ESTIC 2021)
Series
Advances in Engineering Research
Publication Date
1 November 2021
ISBN
10.2991/aer.k.211029.006
ISSN
2352-5401
DOI
10.2991/aer.k.211029.006How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Kim Jun ho
AU  - Kim Soon-ok
AU  - Lee Seong-han
AU  - Lee Yun-jin
AU  - Kim Ryunghwa
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/01
TI  - Medical Waste Management in Korea’s COVID-19 Response
BT  - Proceedings of the Environmental Science and Technology International Conference (ESTIC 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 33
EP  - 37
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/aer.k.211029.006
DO  - 10.2991/aer.k.211029.006
ID  - Junho2021
ER  -