Jakarta Bay at Risk of Medical Waste Infestation Says Covid Task Force

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Covid-19 task force revealed that medical waste has likely infested Jakarta Bay after a research was conducted by three academic and science institutes.

Researchers from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), and UT found that the creek at Marunda and Cilincing rivers heading towards the Jakarta Bay are infested by used face masks and PPE (personal protection equipment).

“Based on the data provided, it can be concluded that PPE wastes [such as face masks, medical gloves, hazmat suits, plastic raincoats, and face shields] had significantly increased,” the report from the Covid-19 task force’s waste handling unit wrote in its report on February 3. 

This comes as a health hazard for the public as used PPE wastes will likely cause a broader spread of Covid-19 if someone directly makes contact with the items. 

The Covid-19 Task Force’s records in 2020 found 1.94 kilograms of medical waste at the Muara Cilincing river in March last year and saw that number rise the following month with 2.16 kilograms found. However, the finding in Muara Marunda was even more than that as they found up to 6.38 kilograms of medical waste in April 2020. 

Also Read: Jakarta Records 12,785 Tons of Medical Waste During Pandemic

IMAM HAMDI