People who are self-isolating are being told to double-bag potentially contaminated waste and store it in a secure place for 72 hours before putting it out for collection.

Council chiefs in Thanet say these stringent measures should be followed by anyone asked to self-isolate, either as a precaution or because they have coronavirus, to help stop the spread of the disease.

In a statement to residents, the council says tissues, cleaning cloths and disposable wipes should be put in a plastic rubbish bag, which should then be tied when full.

"The plastic bag should be placed in a second bin bag and tied," the council spokesman said.

"The bag should be put in a suitable and secure place, away from children, and stored for a period of 72 hours - three full days.

"After the 72 hour period has elapsed it is safe to treat the bagged tissues wipes etc as general waste even if anyone living at your address thinks they may have Covid-19.

"You should not put your waste in communal waste areas until waste has been stored for at least 72 hours.

"After three days outside the body the virus is no longer viable and the double-bagged waste can be put in the general rubbish collection as normal."

The council says only waste that is heavily contaminated, such as tissues that have been coughed into and disposable cleaning cloths, need to be treated in this way, and regular household recycling and waste should be treated as normal.

Thanet council warns there may be some changes to the normal waste and recycling collections in the coming weeks and months, but that food waste and general rubbish will be be prioritised.

Other council's are also taking measures, including Canterbury City Council which is suspending green waste collections indefinitely.

In Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Faversham bin collections have been affected due to waste collection staff self-isolating.

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