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| COMMENTARY |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 3 | Page : 308 |
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Breath alcohol test and COVID-19
Ajay Ghangale
Department of Forensic Medicine, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Submission | 18-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 04-Aug-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 06-Aug-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 26-Feb-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Ajay Ghangale
Department of Forensic Medicine, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_396_20
How to cite this article:
Ghangale A. Breath alcohol test and COVID-19. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth 2022;15:308 |
The Department of Disease Control has suggested procedures to safely use breathalyzers (BATs) amid the fear of COVID-19 infection.[1] It is suggested to use two kinds of BATs: one for screening and the other for evidential test. “The screening type can be placed 5–8 cm from the mouth and requires no blowing. The machine can detect alcohol when the tested person talks in only 3–5 s,” suggesting that after each test, the nozzle must be removed and properly disposed of, whereas the BATs of both kinds must be cleaned with 70% alcohol before using them on the next person.[1]
In Mumbai, India, a circular was issued by the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Highway Police that police personals should not conduct breath-analyzer tests for alcohol consumption by motorists. The test would be resumed once the situation gets normal. However, the police is determined that this will not deter its drive to crack drunk driving cases. Mumbai Traffic Police will be subjecting suspect motorists driving under the influence of alcohol to blood tests to check consumption levels.[2]
As per The Times of India, New Delhi, city, March 23, 2020, The BAT ban, The Delhi high court on Monday suspended breath analyzer test through the tube process till further orders for air traffic controllers (ATC) amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The court also directed the Directorate General of Medical Sciences (Air), ATC' Guild (India), Airport Authority of India. Sought direction for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India to suspend the test.[3]
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