← All Posts


Tons of Medical Waste is Generated During the Covid-19 Pandemic

4
As hospitals brace for the surge in covid-19 patients, the amount of medical waste increases every day. The increased use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks by patients and healthcare workers has caused an increase in waste generation. What Wuhan did to Cope up with the Increased Waste Generation Coronavirus originated from Wuhan in China. Wuhan officials made new makeshift hospitals to cater for the influx of patients. This means that their medical waste generation also increased because each hospital had its share of waste generated. Therefore, to handle the tons of medical waste generated, the officials built a new medical waste plant.

They also deployed 46 more mobile medical waste treatment facilities. The waste generated by hospitals during the covid-19 pandemic is six times more than what was generated before the pandemic. In Wuhan, hospitals are producing 240 metric tons of medical waste every day.

 Medical Waste Generation in the US

In the US, hospitals are generating tons of medical waste as a result of increased use of PPEs and testing of covid-19. Additionally, some patients are recovering at home, and they might throw away garbage that is contaminated. The situation is projected to increase as more tests are being done each day. Additionally, healthcare workers are using PPEs every day, which are then disposed of after use.

Final Thoughts

With the covid-19 pandemic, medical waste generated has increased significantly. Hospitals are generating tons of medical waste from used PPEs, reagents, and other medical sources.