https://www.nationalgeographic.

com/science/2020/06/why-covid-19-will-end-up-harming-the-
environment/

 In early April, with shutdowns widespread, daily global carbon emissions were down by 17
percent compared to last year. But as of June 11, new data show that they are only about 5
percent lower than at the same point in 2019, even though normal activity has not yet fully
restarted.
 As the first country to shut down when the virus hit, and one of the earliest to start reopening,
China’s experience offers a preview of what could be in store elsewhere. The dramatic air
quality improvements seen as manufacturing and transportation largely came to a halt in
February and March have now vanished.
 As factories pushed to make up for lost time, pollution returned in early May to pre-
coronavirus levels, and in some places surpassed them for a short time, although it’s fallen
back a bit since.
 Meanwhile, provincial officials desperate for the economic boost that comes with any
construction are giving the go-ahead to a raft of new coal-fired power plants
 Among many other moves, the Trump administration has effectively suspended enforcement
of air and water pollution regulations, curtailed states' ability to block energy projects, and
suspended a requirement for environmental review and public input on new mines, pipelines,
highways, and other projects.
 Another worry is traffic. With social distancing hard to maintain on public transportation, and
many travelers likely to avoid it out of fear of contracting the virus, cities could be headed for
a post-shutdown “carpocalypse,”
 In Brazil, illegal loggers have accelerated their destruction of the Amazon rainforest while the
coronavirus ravages the nation. According to satellite data from the space research agency
INPE, 64 percent more land was cleared in April 2020 than in the same month last year—even
though 2019 was the biggest year for deforestation in more than a decade.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-covid-19-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-
environment

 As industries, transport networks and businesses have closed down, it has brought a sudden
drop in carbon emissions. Compared with this time last year, levels of pollution in New York
have reduced by nearly 50% because of measures to contain the virus.
 In China, emissions fell 25% at the start of the year as people were instructed to stay at home,
factories shuttered and coal use fell by 40% at China’s six largest power plants since the last
quarter of 2019. The proportion of days with “good quality air” was up 11.4% compared with
the same time last year in 337 cities across China, according to its Ministry of Ecology and
Environment.
 In Europe, satellite images show nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions fading away over northern
Italy.
 A global pandemic that is claiming people’s lives certainly shouldn’t be seen as a way of bringing
about environmental change either. For one thing, it’s far from certain how lasting this dip in
emissions will be.
  Take transport, for example, which makes up 23% of global carbon emissions. These emissions
have fallen in the short term in countries where public health measures, such as keeping people
in their homes, have cut unnecessary travel. Driving and aviation are key contributors to
emissions from transport, contributing 72% and 11% of the transport sector’s greenhouse gas
emissions respectively.
 Combined emissions from industrial processes, manufacturing and construction make up
18.4% of global anthropogenic emissions. The financial crash of 2008-09 led to an overall dip
in emissions of 1.3%. But this quickly rebounded by 2010 as the economy recovered, leading
to an all-time high.
 If the coronavirus outbreak continues to the end of the year then consumer demand could
remain low because of lost wages. Output and fossil fuel use might not recover that quickly,
even though the capacity to do so is there.”
 researchers such as Glen Peters of the Center for International Climate and Environment
Research in Oslo have noted that overall 2020 may still see a drop in global emissions of 0.3% –
less pronounced than the crash of 2008-09, but also with an opportunity for less rebound if
efforts to stimulate the economy are focused towards sectors such as clean energy.

https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=2333

 Air quality improved largely because of a reduction in factory and road traffic emissions of
carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and related ozone (O3) formation, and particulate
matter (PM).
 During the same period, global air traffic dropped by 60%. Taken together, these emissions
reductions have led to a temporary dip in CO2 emissions from their pre-crisis levels, encouraging
some to hope that our global society may indeed be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
substantially over the long term to mitigate impending climate change.
 Volumes of unrecyclable waste have risen; severe cuts in agricultural and fishery export levels
have led to the generation of large quantities of organic waste; maintenance and monitoring
of natural ecosystems have been temporarily halted; and tourism activity to natural areas has
ceased.
 Local waste problems have emerged as many municipalities have suspended their recycling
activities over fears of virus propagation in recycling centres.
 Food retailers have resumed using plastic bags at checkout points citing health concerns over
consumers’ reuse of paper bags. In addition, due to stay-at-home policies, many consumers
have increased their consumption of take-away food delivered with single-use packaging.
 With the emergence of import restrictions in export markets and sharp declines in the
availability of cargo transportation services, the coronavirus crisis has led to increased volumes
of un-shippable agricultural and fishery commodities. Many export-oriented producers produce
volumes far too large for output to be absorbed in local markets, and thus organic waste
levels have mounted substantially. Because this waste is left to decay, levels of methane (CH4)
emissions, a greenhouse gas, from decaying produce are expected to rise sharply in the crisis
and immediate post-crisis months.
 In many countries, environmental protection workers at national parks and land and marine
conservation zones are required to stay at home in lockdown, leaving these areas unmonitored.
Their absence has resulted in a rise of illegal deforestation, fishing and wildlife hunting.
 The stoppage of ecotourism activity has also left natural ecosystems at risk of illegal
harvesting and encroachment. In addition, as ecotourism is often a major economic mainstay
in many destinations, rising unemployment caused by the crisis may lead many households to
harvest resources from fragile ecosystems unsustainably as they seek alternative means to
provide their households with food and income.

https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/what-impact-will-covid-19-have-
environment

 Wuhan also experienced a 44 per cent drop in concentrations of PM2.5, another ambient
pollutant strongly linked to human activity with particularly detrimental health impacts.
 Across March 2020, average NO2 concentrations in Rome were 26–35 per cent lower than
for the same period in 2019, according to the European Environmental Agency.
 Similar trends were observed in other European cities that implemented lockdown
measures, such as Madrid, which experienced a 51 per cent reduction in average NO2
concentrations.
 In the UK, London and Edinburgh have experienced a drop in NO2 levels by up to 60 per
cent compared to the March/April period last year.
 In a report collated by air quality information and tech company IQAir, 9 out of 10 major
global cities that imposed COVID-19 shutdowns measured PM2.5 reductions of 25–60 per
cent compared to the same period last year.
 According to calculations carried out by Earth science Assistant Professor Marshall Burke at
Stanford University, the reduction in air pollution caused by the industrial shutdowns is
likely to have saved between 53,000 to 77,000 lives in China alone.
 An analysis by Carbon Brief suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic could reduce CO2
emissions by 1600 million tonnes this year, which is around 5.5 per cent of total global
emissions in 2019.
 The drop would be the largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions, greater than during any
economic crisis or war since the start of the 20th century. This tentative estimate has been
calculated by analysing a data set that covers roughly three-quarters of the world’s annual
CO2 emissions.
 Atmospheric CO2 levels don’t just depend on CO2 emissions from human activity—they’re
also influenced by how well (or poorly) the rest of the planet absorbs CO2.
 Land and ocean ecosystems removed around 30 and 25 per cent respectively of the
anthropogenic CO2 created between 2000–08, leaving 45 per cent to accumulate in the
atmosphere.
 s a result, atmospheric CO2 levels have been rising by an average of almost 2.5 ppm (parts
per million) each year since 2010.
 In fact, atmospheric scientists have estimated that even with a 10 per cent drop in
emissions sustained all year, we will still see atmospheric CO2 concentrations increasing
by 2 ppm in 2020.
 Experts warn that despite lower air pollution levels in the short term, our environment
may not see any long-term benefits.
https://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/rbas/en/home/presscenter/articles/2020/covid-19-and-
the-environment--impact-and-response.html

 A big concern is over the medical waste resulting from the COVID-19 crises, including wastes
generated at hospitals where COVID-19 patients are being treated; wastes from quarantine
areas; in addition to the disposable personal protective equipment widely used by the majority
 Medical Waste represents a potential danger as many disposable materials, such as gloves,
facial masks and shoes, are made of materials hardly decomposable in nature. If not disposed
of properly, we can face to its accumulation in our environment which can be further harmful
to all environmental elements
 Another potential negative impact stems from the extensive use of sanitization chemicals and
disinfectants containing toxic material to the environment. Their extended production and
consumption led to an increasing amount of sanitization/hygiene bottles and packaging that
are mostly made of hard-to-decompose plastics.
 Additionally, importing of agricultural products seemed to be halted due to this curfew which
resulted in increasing application of pesticides and chemicals by local farmers who are under
pressure to produce more than planned.
 There is a clear link between inequality and vulnerability. those who are the most affected by
pollution are at the same time at the greatest risk of having severe symptoms of COVID-19.
 It is predicted that after strict restrictions, countries will focus on restarting their economies by
funding industrial activities that might compensate for their economic loss. To prevent such a
scenario, we should commit to green COVID-19 economic rescue plans.

https://www.statista.com/topics/6139/covid-19-impact-on-the-global-economy/

 Early estimates predicated that, should the virus become a global pandemic, most major
economies will lose at least 2.4 percent of the value their gross domestic product (GDP) over
2020, leading economists to already reduce their 2020 forecasts of global economic growth
down from around 3.0 percent to 2.4 percent
 owever, these predictions were made prior to COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic, and
before the implementation of widespread restrictions on social contact to stop the spread of the
virus. Since then, global stock markets have suffered dramatic falls due to the outbreak, and the
Dow Jones reported its largest-ever single day fall of almost 3,000 points on March 16, 2020 –
beating its previous record of 2,300 points that was set only four days earlier.
 The economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is largely driven by a fall in demand,
meaning that there are not consumers to purchase the goods and services available in the global
economy.
 To slow the spread of the virus, countries placed restrictions on travel, meaning that many
people cannot purchase flights for holidays or business trips. This reduction in consumer
demand causes airlines to lose planned revenue, meaning they then need to cut their expenses
by reducing the number of flights they operate. Without government assistance, eventually
airlines will also need to reduce lay off staff to further cut costs.
 The same dynamic applies to other industries, for example with falling demand for oil and new
cars as daily commutes, social events and holidays are no longer possible.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/08/the-global-economic-outlook-during-the-
covid-19-pandemic-a-changed-world

 The June 2020 Global Economic Prospects describes both the immediate and near-term
outlook for the impact of the pandemic and the long-term damage it has dealt to prospects
for growth. The baseline forecast envisions a 5.2 percent contraction in global GDP in 2020,
using market exchange rate weights—the deepest global recession in decades, despite the
extraordinary efforts of governments to counter the downturn with fiscal and monetary policy
support.
 The pandemic is expected to plunge most countries into recession in 2020, with per capita
income contracting in the largest fraction of countries globally since 1870
 Every region is subject to substantial growth downgrades. East Asia and the Pacific will grow
by a scant 0.5%. South Asia will contract by 2.7%, Sub-Saharan Africa by 2.8%, Middle East and
North Africa by 4.2%, Europe and Central Asia by 4.7%, and Latin America by 7.2%. These
downturns are expected to reverse years of progress toward development goals and tip tens
of millions of people back into extreme poverty.
 The forecast assumes that the pandemic recedes in such a way that domestic mitigation
measures can be lifted by mid-year in advanced economies and later in developing countries,
that adverse global spillovers ease during the second half of 2020, and that widespread financial
crises are avoided. This scenario would envision global growth reviving, albeit modestly, to 4.2%
in 2021.
 The COVID-19 recession has seen the fastest, steepest downgrades in consensus growth
projections among all global recessions since 1990

Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment

 On the one hand, climate experts predict that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could drop to
proportions never before seen since WorldWar II (Global Carbon Project, 2020). This outcome is
mainly due to the social distancing policies adopted by the governments following the
appearance of the pandemic.
 Also, the social distancing measures adopted by most governments have caused many
beaches around the world to get cleaned up. This as a result of the reduction in waste
generated by tourists who visit the beaches.
 Likewise, noise levels have fallen significantly in most countries. The decrease in the use of
private and public transportation, as well as commercial activities, has caused a reduction in
noise.
 For example, in the USA, some cities have suspended recycling programs because authorities
have been concerned about the risk of spreading the virus in recycling centers. On the other
hand, in the European nations particularly affected, sustainable waste management has been
restricted. For example, Italy has prohibited infected residents from sorting their waste.
 Companies that once encouraged consumers to bring their bags have increasingly switched to
single-use packaging.
 Due to quarantine, NO2 was reduced by 22.8 μg/m3 and 12.9 μg/m3 in Wuhan and China,
respectively. PM 2.5 fell by 1.4 μg/m3 inWuhan but decreased by 18.9 μg/m3 in 367 cities.
  On the other hand, the readings from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite show a significant
decrease in NO2 concentrations over Rome, Madrid, and Paris, the first cities in Europe to
implement strict quarantine measures.
 According to CAMS (2020), a drop of approximately 20–30% of PM 2.5 is observed in large parts
of China, when comparing the difference between the monthly average for February 2020 and
the mean of the monthly averages for February 2017, 2018, and 2019
 The lack of tourists, as a result of the social distancingmeasures due to the new coronavirus
pandemic, has caused a notable change in the appearance of many beaches in the world. For
example, beaches like those of Acapulco (Mexico), Barcelona (Spain), or Salinas (Ecuador) now
look cleaner and with crystal clear waters.
 Medical waste is also on the rise. Hospitals in Wuhan produced an average of 240 metric tons
of medical waste per day during the outbreak, compared to their previous average of fewer
than 50 tons.
 In other countries such as the USA, there has been an increase in garbage from personal
protective equipment such as masks and gloves (Calma,2020).
 As a result of the pandemic, countries such as the USA have stopped recycling programs in some
of their cities, as authorities have been concerned about the risk of COVID-19 spreading in
recycling centers. In particularly affected European countries, waste management has been
restricted. For example, Italy has prohibited infected residents from sorting their waste.

COVID-19 outbreak: Migration, effects on society, global environment and prevention

 People belonging to the tourism and transportation industry are also facing utmost
difficulties. Production level has gone very low. Economy of many so called powerful countries
are now facing the threat of high inflation and increasing unemployment as a result of lack of
productivity and excessive expenditure for the treatment and rehabilitation of the COVID-19
victims and their families (OECD Interim Economic Assessment, 2 March 2020).
 For each month there will be an approximate loss of 2% points in annual GDP growth.
 The tourism sector alone faces an output decrease as high as 50% to 70%.
 According to World Trade Organization (WTO) and Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) have indicated COVID-19 pandemic as the largest threat to global
economy since the financial emergency of 2008–2009.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health aspects in Nepal

 While the preventive vaccine and treatment option are yet to be developed, the worldwide
spread of the novel coronavirus has further led to neuropsychiatric issues such as fear,
anxiety, depression, panic attacks, psycho-motor excitement, suicidal deaths and a general
decrease in overall wellbeing (Brooks et al., 2020; Xiang et al., 2020).
 Similarly, patients who are infected with COVID-19 are at a greater risk of developing mental
health problems, as they are facing stigma and discrimination from their own family members.
 This resulted in a situation of panic-buying and hoarding of goods among the Nepalese,
creating a shortage of goods and supplies.
 With the implications of countrywide lockdown on 24 March, the international flight ban
resulted in the stranding of thousands of Nepalese in different parts of the world. A large
 number of Nepalese labor migrants and students could not return to their destinations abroad
from Nepal, resulting in serious havoc.
 With high levels of food insecurity and widespread malnutrition among children, the
consequences of the virus spreading widely could reverse the recent positive trends in poverty
and prove to be catastrophic and far-reaching.
 Farmers are compelled to dump milk and vegetables after a significant decrease in supply and
closure of processing companies and proper markets
 According to the World Bank (2020b), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 1.6
billion children and youth in 161 countries to be out of school, which is close to 80% of the
world’s enrolled students.
 The Government of Nepal though has decided to introduce a digital education system to
continue the teaching learning process, and this has further burdened parents with the load of
school fees and online internet fees. It is further stressful for parents with a low income who
have to struggle for daily wages and do not have proper internet access, as it compromises the
learning needs of their children.
 This pandemic crisis has significantly transformed the working environment, resulting in high-
pressure work, and unfavorable and demanding interactions among health workers.
 Contracting COVID-19 has increased stigma and social discrimination among people. Some
house owners have been reported to evict nurses, doctors and other medical professionals
from their rental apartments fearing the spread of the novel coronavirus in their
neighborhood.
 The economic downturn caused by COVID-19 can increase the economic instability, health
inequalities and social disparities in Nepal, which can have a huge impact on the poverty
levels.
 Research has shown that a pandemic like COVID-19 can result in increased mental burden to
marginalized or lowincome people via socioeconomic disadvantage such as job insecurity,
housing instability, discrimination and food insecurity (Goldmann & Galea, 2014).

Global socio-economic losses and environmental gains from the Coronavirus pandemic

 Based on information as of May 2020, we show that global consumption losses amount to
3.8$tr, triggering significant job (147 million full-time equivalent) and income (2.1$tr) losses
 Global atmospheric emissions are reduced by 2.5Gt of greenhouse gases, 0.6Mt of PM2.5, and
5.1Mt of SO2 and NOx.
 Consumption: US$3.8 trillion (4.2 percent ~ GDP of Germany)
 Jobs: 147m (4.2 percent of the global workforce)
 Income from wages and salaries: $2.1 trillion (6 percent)
 Most directly hit: US, China (mainland), air transport and related tourism
 Greenhouse gas emissions: 2.5Gt (4.6 percent) -- larger than any drop in human history*
 Other atmospheric emissions -- PM2.5: Dangerously fine particulate matter emissions fall 0.6 Mt
(3.8 percent); SO2 & NOx: Sulfur dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels -- which has been
linked to asthma and chest tightness -- and emissions from nitrogen oxide -- from fuel
combustion, for example, driving cars -- fall 5.1 Mt (2.9 percent).

The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): A review

  A global crash in demand from hotels and restaurants has seen prices of agricultural
commodities drop by 20%
 Saudi, regarded as the de facto leader of OPEC, increased its provision of oil by 25% compared
to February – taking production volume to an unprecedented level. This caused the steepest
one-day price crash seen in nearly 30 years – On March 23rd, Brent Crude dropped by 24% from
$34/barrel [12] to stand at $25.70
 UNESCO estimates that close to 900 million learners have been affected by the closure of
educational institutions
 In Dubai, 13,900 people have signed a petition to decrease indepedent school fees by 30% as
parents struggle to source these funds amidst recent pay cuts reaching as high as 50%, and high
costs of living
 These conferences are the key to scientific research in many disciplines, allowing dissemination
of research as well as providing networking opportunities for collaboration and job-seeking.
 The decline in global stock markets has festered a volatile environment with critical liquidity
levels [42]. To combat these effects, Central banks globally have intervened to ensure liquidity is
maintained and mitigate the economic shock, with several leaders embarking on a ‘Whatever it
takes’ approach [7,43]
 Hotel industry revenue per available room in the United States fell 11.6% for the week ending
March 7, 2020, whilst in China occupancy rates fell 89% by the end of January 2020
 a direct consequence of COVID-19, The World Travel and Tourism Council has warned that 50
million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector may be at risk [70]
 Moreover, the Philippines is projecting a 0.3–0.7% slowdown in the country's full year GDP [74]

https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/manila-gets-its-skyline-back-as-air-quality-improves-amid-covid-
19-lockdown/

 Just before the lockdown, the Philippines ranked 57th out of 98 countries in IQAir AirVisual’s list
of the world’s most polluted countries in 2019. Concentrations of tiny particulate matter, known
as PM2.5, averaged 17.6 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) last year, an increase from 14.6
μg/m3 in 2018. They exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safety limit of 10 μg/m3.
 Manila’s air pollution has been linked to between 11,000 and 27,000 deaths in 2018 alone,
according to a recent Greenpeace study, and affects 98% of the capital region’s 12.8 million
people.
 The average pollution level in Metro Manila was 17.6 μg/m3 in 2019 and peaked during this
past New Year’s Eve at 117 μg/m3 — a common occurrence as fireworks are lit in celebration.
By January, ashfall caused by the eruption of the Taal volcano that month drove PM2.5 levels
in Metro Manila to 86 μg/m3, according to the Manila Observatory.
 Data from Airtoday.ph and the Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM) of
the University of the Philippines Diliman show PM2.5 concentrations of 7.1 ug/m3 in the
northern part of Metro Manila from March 16-22, the first week of the lockdown. The same
region recorded PM2.5 levels of 20 ug/m3 two weeks earlier.
 On ordinary Thursdays, the PM2.5 would peak to 38 ug/m3 during evening rush hours, which
can be unhealthy to sensitive groups (such as those with respiratory diseases),” says Mylene
Cayetano, head of the IESM and technical adviser of Airtoday.ph.
  Satellite data from March 16-25 released by the IESM show a clear reduction in atmospheric
aerosols compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019. The IESM says this indicates a
substantial reduction in air pollution in Metro Manila and southern Luzon. However, aerosol
levels remain high in the Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley regions, both north of Metro
Manila, because of agricultural burning.
 Around the world, carbon emissions and air pollution have dropped because of the suspension
of industrial activity, according to Greenpeace. In China, there has been a two-month pollution
drop as seen in nitrogen dioxide levels based on NASA and European Space Agency (ESA)
pollution monitoring satellites. The drop is estimated to have saved the lives of 4,000 children 5
years and younger, and 73,000 adults over 70 years old.

https://rappler.com/environment/report-philippines-air-quality-improvement-march-may-2020

 A recent report released on May 8 by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air
(CREA) said the Philippines ranked second in Southeast Asia in terms of significant
improvements in air quality, next only to Malaysia.
 "The lockdown measures saw an approximately 45% reduction in the NO2 levels of Metro
Manila, as a result of the slowdown in transport activity and a 40% decline in the country's
power demand due to the hold on industries and businesses," the report said.
 "Automobile emissions are one of the main causes of bad air pollution in Malaysia, where
car ownership per person is the third highest in the world," the CREA said.
 The CREA, however, warned that these "improvements in air quality are anomalies and if
left unchecked following the lockdowns, air pollution will return swiftly and the threats to
human health and well-being linked to it will persist."

https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2020/05/23/impact-of-covid19-pandemic-on-the-countrys-solid-
waste-system/

 During this crisis, Lao explained that there was a shift in consumption patterns. People prefered
door-to-door deliveries, which results in more packaging wastes, particularly for the food
industry. Moreover, there are anticipations that there will be more packaging wastes from
households and less from commercial establishments.
 There will also be an extreme increase in medical and health care waste which requires proper
disinfection before disposal.

https://earthjournalism.net/stories/in-the-philippines-medical-waste-piles-up-as-covid-19-cases-rise

 Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the Philippines, San Lazaro Hospital in Manila City—
one of the government hospitals at the forefront of the country’s battle against the severe
respiratory illness—has been generating an average of 10,000 kilograms of infectious medical
waste every month.
 From March to June, it produced an estimated 29,473 kilograms of infectious healthcare
waste, which according to the Department of Health, includes used personal protective
equipment (PPE), dressings, swabs, blood bags, urine bags, sputum cups, syringes, test tubes
and histopathological waste.
  In the case of San Lazaro Hospital, an average of 12 PPE sets are used for one patient in a single
day. A complete PPE set includes coveralls, an N95 mask, gloves, head cover, shoe covers,
goggles, a surgical mask and a surgical gown.
 In April, the Asian Development Bank estimated that hospitals in Metro Manila—the region
that accounts for at least 55% of the nation’s cases—would generate 280 metric tons of
medical waste in a single day.
 Before the pandemic struck, healthcare facilities in the capital region had been estimated to
produce only 47 metric tons of medical waste daily, with 56%—around 26 tons—of this
considered potentially infectious.
 The latest data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that the
Philippines generated 19,187.7 metric tons of infectious healthcare waste from April to July
20. The figure, which refers to the waste that service providers intend to transport and treat,
was based on the special permit to transport submitted by treaters.
 Medical waste in the Philippines is typically disinfected through steam sterilization, also called
autoclave, which subjects the waste to intense heat and pressure to kill pathogens prior to
disposal in a landfill. Autoclaves can process between 100 kilograms to as much as 3,000
kilograms per cycle.
 Treated waste that comes into the facility is again disinfected in the landfill. This process is
repeated while the waste is being disposed of in a special cell before it is buried.
 The DENR urged households to dispose of used face masks, gloves and other protective gear in a
separate container and to inform garbage collectors of its potentially infectious contents.
 Luzon, where many of the country’s urban centers are, can handle the increased volume of
medical and infectious waste, Sañez, the chief of DENR’s hazardous waste management section,
said. The challenge lies in Visayas and Mindanao. There are at least 26 registered treatment,
storage and disposal (TSD) facilities nationwide, a fourth of which are located in Luzon. There
are no TSD facilities in the provinces of Cagayan Valley and the Bicol region, however. Farther
south, the Eastern Visayas region and Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen in Mindanao do
not have waste treatment centers.

https://www.bworldonline.com/the-social-impact-of-covid-19/

 The quarantine has brought families together. Families now have the time to talk to each other
and know each other more deeply, than in the rushed comings and goings of tight work and
study schedules.
 Siblings have found exclusive time to bond with one another, if only temporarily reversing in
favor of family, the usual more time spent with friends and acquaintances.
 And in this time of the pandemic, we think of the over 2.3 million Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) repatriated or will be repatriated by their host countries, in the scare of counter-
infection and in the lockdown in those countries.
 n 2019, OFWs sent back $32.2 billion to the Philippines (The Philippine Daily Inquirer Feb. 16,
2019). In 2017, OFW remittances contributed 10% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according
to the BusinessMirror of February 14, 2018.

https://theaseanpost.com/article/covid-19-impacts-philippines
  The country is estimated to lose between three percent and four percent of its gross domestic
product (GDP) this year.
 In the first quarter of 2020, its GDP shrank by two-tenths of one percent for the first time in
two decades according to Secretary Sonny Dominguez of the Department of Finance (DOF)
 The DOF has projected that revenue collections will be 17 percent of GDP – lower than the
collection in 2019. While disbursements for 2020 have been projected to be around 21.7
percent of GDP, 10 percent higher than the disbursements in 2019.
 Thus, the deficit for 2020 is projected to be around 8.1 percent of GDP or PHP1.56 trillion
(US$31.5 billion).
 The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has estimated that around 10 million workers
may lose their jobs this year because of the pandemic. There’s also a huge loss on remittances
given that thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that have been temporarily or
permanently retrenched in their host countries and are returning to the Philippines.

https://philippines.fnst.org/content/economic-fallout-covid-19-philippines

 The country’s planning ministry forecasts that GDP growth could drop from 5.9% in 2019 to
4.3% this year at best, –0.6% at worst.
 ADB published a report showing how different sectors are likely to be hit. Under various
assumptions, business, trade, personal, and public services are to be hit the most. These are
followed by manufacturing, utilities and construction; hotel, restaurant, and related services;
agriculture, mining, and quarrying; and finally transportation services.
 Total economic losses could amount to $2.6b with a shorter containment, $5.4b with a longer
containment.
 Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—which constitute nearly all formal business
establishments in the Philippines—are also under threat. Some are already beginning to fold
due to low aggregate demand, choked supply lines, and lacking government support.

https://www.adb.org/news/philippine-economy-decline-further-2020-amid-covid-19-recovery-2021

 The Philippine economy is forecast to contract by 7.3% in 2020 amid the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic before growth returns to 6.5% in 2021, according to a new report from
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released today.
 “We believe the worst is now over and that the contraction in GDP bottomed out in May or June
this year. The package of measures the government rolled out such as income support to
families, relief for small businesses, and support to agriculture in the second quarter all helped
the economy to bottom out. We expect the recovery to be slow and fragile for the rest of this
year, and growth to accelerate in 2021 on the back of additional fiscal support and an
accommodative monetary policy stance,” said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Kelly
Bird.
 Following a contraction of 9.0% in the first half of 2020, a slow economic recovery is expected to
start in the second half of 2020, as the government’s fiscal response gains traction and
household consumption slowly picks up on a jobs rebound
 Following the relaxation of community quarantines in June, the employment situation in July
improved markedly from April. The services sector was the main job creator with 3.4 million
jobs added between April and July, followed by the agricultural and industrial sectors, with 2.1
 million and 2 million, respectively. Consequently, the unemployment rate fell from 17.7% in
April to 10.0% in July.
 The report revised the Philippines’ inflation forecasts to 2.4% in 2020 and 2.6% in 2021,
compared with the April projections of 2.2% and 2.4%, respectively, as global oil prices stabilize.

https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20200514

 COVID-19 tends to have a greater effect on the elderly, and those with underlying health
conditions, while poorer or marginalised segments of society are more likely to be
disproportionately affected. The pandemic may therefore increase socioeconomic inequality.
 Healthcare facilities have experienced an explosion in the use of specific kinds of medical
supplies, including disposable masks and gloves, which has caused a rapid increase in medical
waste.
 In locations with high levels of air pollution, the proportion of residents suffering from
respiratory illnesses is high. Individuals infected with COVID-19 are thus likely to be at higher
risk for serious illness and premature death.
 Remote work is being rapidly introduced across the world. It is also recommended that social
engagements take place by the same means, leading to substantial changes in lifestyles as
well as workstyles. Such practices may improve not only the environment but also work-life
balance, and should be maintained to the extent possible, even after the emergency period
ends.
 Going forward, it will be important that each country’s large-scale economic measures
contribute to building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive society in the future
 The urban dimension and root causes of pandemics are multiple, including the fact that
essential daily activities, such as commuting and shopping, are carried out in relatively
congested spaces, that cities confront all sorts of environmental challenges which are
associated with unsustainable production and consumption patterns, and that cities are
primary sources of environmental pollution, which worsens the pre-existing health conditions
of their inhabitants.
 In addition, municipal waste streams in cities will experience a surge in the volume of
disposables, increases in use of single-use plastic bags, containers and utensils, and disruption
of normal waste management systems due to safety concerns and lockdowns.
 In other words, it is fully conceivable that climate change can become an indirect factor
contributing to the rise in frequency of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Therefore, as
illustrated by this current crisis, it is necessary to consider infectious disease risk as another
important impact of climate change.
 Policies and measures, both international and domestic, are therefore considered necessary to
make supply chains more sustainable and resilient.
Sustainability, Environment, and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on:
 Economy
o Unemployment
 In addition, as ecotourism is often a major economic mainstay in many
destinations, rising unemployment caused by the crisis may lead many
households to harvest resources from fragile ecosystems unsustainably
as they seek alternative means to provide their households with food
and income. (https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?
OriginalVersionID=2333)
 Jobs: 147m (4.2 percent of the global workforce) (Global socio-
economic losses and environmental gains from the Coronavirus
pandemic) (Lenzen et al., 2020)
 Income from wages and salaries: $2.1 trillion (6 percent)
 Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—which constitute
nearly all formal business establishments in the Philippines—are also
under threat. Some are already beginning to fold due to low aggregate
demand, choked supply lines, and lacking government support.
(https://philippines.fnst.org/content/economic-fallout-covid-19-
philippines)
 ADB published a report showing how different sectors are likely to be
hit. Under various assumptions, business, trade, personal, and public
services are to be hit the most. These are followed by manufacturing,
utilities and construction; hotel, restaurant, and related services;
agriculture, mining, and quarrying; and finally transportation services.
 Following the relaxation of community quarantines in June, the
employment situation in July improved markedly from April. The
services sector was the main job creator with 3.4 million jobs
added between April and July, followed by the agricultural and
industrial sectors, with 2.1 million and 2 million, respectively.
Consequently, the unemployment rate fell from 17.7% in April to
10.0% in July. (https://www.adb.org/news/philippine-economy-
decline-further-2020-amid-covid-19-recovery-2021))

o GNP/GDP
 The June 2020 Global Economic Prospects describes both the
immediate and near-term outlook for the impact of the pandemic
and the long-term damage it has dealt to prospects for growth.
The baseline forecast envisions a 5.2 percent contraction in global
GDP in 2020, using market exchange rate weights—the deepest
global recession in decades, despite the extraordinary efforts of
governments to counter the downturn with fiscal and monetary
policy support.
(https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/08/the-
global-economic-outlook-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-a-
changed-world)
 Every region is subject to substantial growth downgrades. East
Asia and the Pacific will grow by a scant 0.5%. South Asia will
contract by 2.7%, Sub-Saharan Africa by 2.8%, Middle East and
North Africa by 4.2%, Europe and Central Asia by 4.7%, and
Latin America by 7.2%. These downturns are expected to reverse
years of progress toward development goals and tip tens of
millions of people back into extreme poverty.
 The COVID-19 recession has seen the fastest, steepest downgrades
in consensus growth projections among all global recessions since
1990
 People belonging to the tourism and transportation industry are
also facing utmost difficulties. Production level has gone very low.
Economy of many so called powerful countries are now facing the
threat of high inflation and increasing unemployment as a result
of lack of productivity and excessive expenditure for the treatment
and rehabilitation of the COVID-19 victims and their families
(OECD Interim Economic Assessment, 2 March 2020). (Journal -
COVID-19 outbreak: Migration, effects on society, global
environment and prevention)
 According to World Trade Organization (WTO) and Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have indicated
COVID-19 pandemic as the largest threat to global economy since the
financial emergency of 2008–2009.
 The country is estimated to lose between three percent and four
percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year.
(https://theaseanpost.com/article/covid-19-impacts-philippines)
 In the first quarter of 2020, its GDP shrank by two-tenths of one
percent for the first time in two decades according to Secretary
Sonny Dominguez of the Department of Finance (DOF)
 The DOF has projected that revenue collections will be 17 percent
of GDP – lower than the collection in 2019. While disbursements
 for 2020 have been projected to be around 21.7 percent of GDP, 10
percent higher than the disbursements in 2019.
 Thus, the deficit for 2020 is projected to be around 8.1 percent of
GDP or PHP1.56 trillion (US$31.5 billion).
 The Philippine economy is forecast to contract by 7.3% in 2020
amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic before
growth returns to 6.5% in 2021, according to a new report from
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released today. (due to low
aggregate demand, choked supply lines, and lacking government
support.
https://www.adb.org/news/philippine-economy-decline-further-
2020-amid-covid-19-recovery-2021)



o Supply and Demand

 This resulted in a situation of panic-buying and hoarding of goods
among the Nepalese, creating a shortage of goods and supplies.
(Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health
aspects in Nepal)
 Farmers are compelled to dump milk and vegetables after a
significant decrease in supply and closure of processing companies
and proper markets

 Society
o Peace (SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions)
 On 1 July 2020, the UN Security Council passed resolution
S/RES/2532 (2020), demanding a "a general and immediate cessation
of hostilities in all situations on its agenda," expressing support for
"the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Special
Representatives and Special Envoys in that respect," calling for "all
parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable
humanitarian pause" of at least 90 consecutive days, and calling for
greater international cooperation to address the pandemic.[23]
(WIKIPEDIA)

o Education (SDG 4: Quality Education)

 According to data released by UNESCO on 25 March, school and
university closures due to COVID-19 were implemented nationwide in
165 countries. Including localized closures, this affects over 1.5 billion
students worldwide, accounting for 87% of enrolled learners
 ("COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response". UNESCO. 4
March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.)
 According to the World Bank (2020b), the COVID-19 pandemic
has caused more than 1.6 billion children and youth in 161
countries to be out of school, which is close to 80% of the world’s
enrolled students. (Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on
socioeconomic and mental health aspects in Nepal)
 The Government of Nepal though has decided to introduce a digital
education system to continue the teaching learning process, and this
has further burdened parents with the load of school fees and online
internet fees. It is further stressful for parents with a low income who
have to struggle for daily wages and do not have proper internet
access, as it compromises the learning needs of their children. (Impact
of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health aspects
in Nepal)



o Inequality (SDG 10: Reduced Inequality)
 Low income individuals are more likely to contract the
coronavirus and to die from it.[25] In both New York City and
Barcelona, low income neighborhoods are disproportionately hit
by coronavirus cases. Hypotheses for why this is the case include
that poorer families are more likely to live in crowded housing and
work in the low skill jobs, such as supermarkets and elder care,
which are deemed essential during the crisis.[26][27]
(WIKIPEDIA)
 Contracting COVID-19 has increased stigma and social discrimination
among people. Some house owners have been reported to evict nurses,
doctors and other medical professionals from their rental apartments
fearing the spread of the novel coronavirus in their neighborhood.
(Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health
aspects in Nepal)
 The economic downturn caused by COVID-19 can increase the
economic instability, health inequalities and social disparities in Nepal,
which can have a huge impact on the poverty levels.
 Research has shown that a pandemic like COVID-19 can result in
increased mental burden to marginalized or lowincome people via
socioeconomic disadvantage such as job insecurity, housing
instability, discrimination and food insecurity (Goldmann & Galea,
2014).
 COVID-19 tends to have a greater effect on the elderly, and those with
underlying health conditions, while poorer or marginalised segments
 of society are more likely to be disproportionately affected. The
pandemic may therefore increase socioeconomic inequality.
(https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20200514)


o Mental Health (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)

 The coronavirus pandemic has been followed by a concern for a
potential spike in suicides, exacerbated by social isolation due to
quarantine and social-distancing guidelines, fear, and
unemployment and financial factors.
 While the preventive vaccine and treatment option are yet to be
developed, the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus has
further led to neuropsychiatric issues such as fear, anxiety,
depression, panic attacks, psycho-motor excitement, suicidal
deaths and a general decrease in overall wellbeing (Brooks et al.,
2020; Xiang et al., 2020).
 Similarly, patients who are infected with COVID-19 are at a greater
risk of developing mental health problems, as they are facing stigma
and discrimination from their own family members.


o Social Life
 The impact on personal gatherings has been strong as medical experts
have advised, and local authorities often mandated stay-at-home orders
to prevents gatherings of any size, not just the larger events that were
initially restricted (WIKIPEDIA)
 Domestic Violence: Many countries have reported an increase in
domestic violence and intimate partner violence attributed to
lockdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[55] Financial
insecurity, stress, and uncertainty have lead to increased
aggression at home, with abusers able to control large amounts of
their victims' daily life. (WIKIPEDIA)
 Remote work is being rapidly introduced across the world. It is
also recommended that social engagements take place by the same
means, leading to substantial changes in lifestyles as well as
workstyles. Such practices may improve not only the environment
but also work-life balance, and should be maintained to the extent
possible, even after the emergency period ends.
(https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20200514)
 The urban dimension and root causes of pandemics are multiple,
including the fact that essential daily activities, such as commuting and
 shopping, are carried out in relatively congested spaces, that cities
confront all sorts of environmental challenges which are associated
with unsustainable production and consumption patterns, and that
cities are primary sources of environmental pollution, which worsens
the pre-existing health conditions of their inhabitants.



 Environment
o Air Quality
 In early April, with shutdowns widespread, daily global carbon
emissions were down by 17 percent compared to last year. But as
of June 11, new data show that they are only about 5 percent
lower than at the same point in 2019, even though normal activity
has not yet fully restarted.
(https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/06/why-covid-
19-will-end-up-harming-the-environment/)
 In China, the dramatic air quality improvements seen as manufacturing
and transportation largely came to a halt in February and March have
now vanished. As factories pushed to make up for lost time, pollution
returned in early May to pre-coronavirus levels, and in some places
surpassed them for a short time, although it’s fallen back a bit since.
 Among many other moves, the Trump administration has effectively
suspended enforcement of air and water pollution regulations,
curtailed states' ability to block energy projects, and suspended a
requirement for environmental review and public input on new mines,
pipelines, highways, and other projects.
 In China, emissions fell 25% at the start of the year as people were
instructed to stay at home, factories shuttered and coal use fell by
40% at China’s six largest power plants since the last quarter of
2019. The proportion of days with “good quality air” was up
11.4% compared with the same time last year in 337 cities across
China, according to its Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
(https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-covid-19-the-
impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-environment)
 Combined emissions from industrial processes, manufacturing
and construction make up 18.4% of global anthropogenic
emissions. The financial crash of 2008-09 led to an overall dip in
emissions of 1.3%. But this quickly rebounded by 2010 as the
economy recovered, leading to an all-time high.
 Air quality improved largely because of a reduction in factory and
road traffic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides
 (NOx) and related ozone (O3) formation, and particulate matter
(PM). (https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?
OriginalVersionID=23
 Across March 2020, average NO2 concentrations in Rome were
26–35 per cent lower than for the same period in 2019, according
to the European Environmental Agency. Similar trends were
observed in other European cities that implemented lockdown
measures, such as Madrid, which experienced a 51 per cent
reduction in average NO2 concentrations.
(https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/what-
impact-will-covid-19-have-environment)
 An analysis by Carbon Brief suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic
could reduce CO2 emissions by 1600 million tonnes this year, which is
around 5.5 per cent of total global emissions in 2019.
 Atmospheric CO2 levels don’t just depend on CO2 emissions from
human activity—they’re also influenced by how well (or poorly)
the rest of the planet absorbs CO2. Land and ocean ecosystems
removed around 30 and 25 per cent respectively of the
anthropogenic CO2 created between 2000–08, leaving 45 per cent
to accumulate in the atmosphere. As a result, atmospheric CO2
levels have been rising by an average of almost 2.5 ppm (parts per
million) each year since 2010.
 In fact, atmospheric scientists have estimated that even with a 10
per cent drop in emissions sustained all year, we will still see
atmospheric CO2 concentrations increasing by 2 ppm in
2020.Experts warn that despite lower air pollution levels in the
short term, our environment may not see any long-term benefits.
 Due to quarantine, NO2 was reduced by 22.8 μg/m3 and 12.9 μg/m3 in
Wuhan and China, respectively. PM 2.5 fell by 1.4 μg/m3 inWuhan
but decreased by 18.9 μg/m3 in 367 cities. (Journal - Indirect effects of
COVID-19 on the environment)
 On the other hand, the readings from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P
satellite show a significant decrease in NO2 concentrations over
Rome, Madrid, and Paris, the first cities in Europe to implement strict
quarantine measures.
 According to CAMS (2020), a drop of approximately 20–30% of PM
2.5 is observed in large parts of China, when comparing the difference
between the monthly average for February 2020 and the mean of the
monthly averages for February 2017, 2018, and 2019
 The average pollution level in Metro Manila was 17.6 μg/m3 in
2019 and peaked during this past New Year’s Eve at 117 μg/m3 —
a common occurrence as fireworks are lit in celebration. By
January, ashfall caused by the eruption of the Taal volcano that
 month drove PM2.5 levels in Metro Manila to 86 μg/m3, according
to the Manila Observatory.
(https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/manila-gets-its-skyline-back-
as-air-quality-improves-amid-covid-19-lockdown/)
 Data from Airtoday.ph and the Institute of Environmental Science
& Meteorology (IESM) of the University of the Philippines
Diliman show PM2.5 concentrations of 7.1 ug/m3 in the northern
part of Metro Manila from March 16-22, the first week of the
lockdown. The same region recorded PM2.5 levels of 20 ug/m3 two
weeks earlier.
 Satellite data from March 16-25 released by the IESM show a
clear reduction in atmospheric aerosols compared to the same
period in 2018 and 2019. The IESM says this indicates a
substantial reduction in air pollution in Metro Manila and
southern Luzon. However, aerosol levels remain high in the
Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley regions, both north of Metro
Manila, because of agricultural burning.
 A recent report released on May 8 by the Center for Research on
Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said the Philippines ranked second
in Southeast Asia in terms of significant improvements in air
quality, next only to Malaysia.
(https://rappler.com/environment/report-philippines-air-quality-
improvement-march-may-2020)
 "The lockdown measures saw an approximately 45% reduction in the
NO2 levels of Metro Manila, as a result of the slowdown in transport
activity and a 40% decline in the country's power demand due to the
hold on industries and businesses," the report said.
 In locations with high levels of air pollution, the proportion of
residents suffering from respiratory illnesses is high. Individuals
infected with COVID-19 are thus likely to be at higher risk for serious
illness and premature death.https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20200514)


o Traffic
 Another worry is traffic. With social distancing hard to maintain on
public transportation, and many travelers likely to avoid it out of fear
of contracting the virus, cities could be headed for a post-shutdown
“carpocalypse,”(https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/06
/why-covid-19-will-end-up-harming-the-environment/)

o Destruction of Wildlife
 In Brazil, illegal loggers have accelerated their destruction of the
Amazon rainforest while the coronavirus ravages the nation.
 According to satellite data from the space research agency INPE,
64 percent more land was cleared in April 2020 than in the same
month last year—even though 2019 was the biggest year for
deforestation in more than a decade.
(https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/06/why-covid-
19-will-end-up-harming-the-environment/)
 Maintenance and monitoring of natural ecosystems have been
temporarily halted; and tourism activity to natural areas has ceased.
(https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?
OriginalVersionID=2333)
 In many countries, environmental protection workers at national parks
and land and marine conservation zones are required to stay at home in
lockdown, leaving these areas unmonitored. Their absence has resulted
in a rise of illegal deforestation, fishing and wildlife hunting.
 The stoppage of ecotourism activity has also left natural ecosystems at
risk of illegal harvesting and encroachment.
 The lack of tourists, as a result of the social distancingmeasures due to
the new coronavirus pandemic, has caused a notable change in the
appearance of many beaches in the world. For example, beaches like
those of Acapulco (Mexico), Barcelona (Spain), or Salinas (Ecuador)
now look cleaner and with crystal clear waters. (Journal - Indirect
effects of COVID-19 on the environment)


o Waste
 Volumes of unrecyclable waste have risen; severe cuts in
agricultural and fishery export levels have led to the generation of
large quantities of organic waste
(https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?
OriginalVersionID=2333)
 Local waste problems have emerged as many municipalities have
suspended their recycling activities over fears of virus propagation
in recycling centres.
 Food retailers have resumed using plastic bags at checkout points
citing health concerns over consumers’ reuse of paper bags. In
addition, due to stay-at-home policies, many consumers have
increased their consumption of take-away food delivered with
single-use packaging.
 With the emergence of import restrictions in export markets and
sharp declines in the availability of cargo transportation services,
the coronavirus crisis has led to increased volumes of un-shippable
agricultural and fishery commodities. Many export-oriented
producers produce volumes far too large for output to be absorbed
 in local markets, and thus organic waste levels have mounted
substantially. Because this waste is left to decay, levels of methane
(CH4) emissions, a greenhouse gas, from decaying produce are
expected to rise sharply in the crisis and immediate post-crisis
months.
 Medical Waste represents a potential danger as many disposable
materials, such as gloves, facial masks and shoes, are made of
materials hardly decomposable in nature. If not disposed of properly,
we can face to its accumulation in our environment which can be
further harmful to all environmental elements
(https://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/rbas/en/home/presscenter/
articles/2020/covid-19-and-the-environment--impact-and-
response.html)
 Another potential negative impact stems from the extensive use of
sanitization chemicals and disinfectants containing toxic material to
the environment. Their extended production and consumption led to an
increasing amount of sanitization/hygiene bottles and packaging that
are mostly made of hard-to-decompose plastics.
 There is a clear link between inequality and vulnerability. those who
are the most affected by pollution are at the same time at the greatest
risk of having severe symptoms of COVID-19.
 Also, the social distancing measures adopted by most governments
have caused many beaches around the world to get cleaned up.
This as a result of the reduction in waste generated by tourists who
visit the beaches. (Journal - Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the
environment)
 For example, in the USA, some cities have suspended recycling
programs because authorities have been concerned about the risk
of spreading the virus in recycling centers. On the other hand, in
the European nations particularly affected, sustainable waste
management has been restricted. For example, Italy has
prohibited infected residents from sorting their waste.
 Medical waste is also on the rise. Hospitals in Wuhan produced an
average of 240 metric tons of medical waste per day during the
outbreak, compared to their previous average of fewer than 50 tons. In
other countries such as the USA, there has been an increase in garbage
from personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves
(Calma,2020).
 Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the Philippines, San
Lazaro Hospital in Manila City—one of the government hospitals
at the forefront of the country’s battle against the severe
respiratory illness—has been generating an average of 10,000
kilograms of infectious medical waste every month.
 (https://earthjournalism.net/stories/in-the-philippines-medical-
waste-piles-up-as-covid-19-cases-rise)
 From March to June, it produced an estimated 29,473 kilograms
of infectious healthcare waste, which according to the Department
of Health, includes used personal protective equipment (PPE),
dressings, swabs, blood bags, urine bags, sputum cups, syringes,
test tubes and histopathological waste.
 In April, the Asian Development Bank estimated that hospitals in
Metro Manila—the region that accounts for at least 55% of the
nation’s cases—would generate 280 metric tons of medical waste
in a single day.
 Before the pandemic struck, healthcare facilities in the capital
region had been estimated to produce only 47 metric tons of
medical waste daily, with 56%—around 26 tons—of this
considered potentially infectious.
 The latest data from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources showed that the Philippines generated 19,187.7 metric
tons of infectious healthcare waste from April to July 20. The
figure, which refers to the waste that service providers intend to
transport and treat, was based on the special permit to transport
submitted by treaters.
 Medical waste in the Philippines is typically disinfected through
steam sterilization, also called autoclave, which subjects the waste
to intense heat and pressure to kill pathogens prior to disposal in a
landfill. Autoclaves can process between 100 kilograms to as much
as 3,000 kilograms per cycle.
 Treated waste that comes into the facility is again disinfected in
the landfill. This process is repeated while the waste is being
disposed of in a special cell before it is buried.
 There are at least 26 registered treatment, storage and disposal
(TSD) facilities nationwide, a fourth of which are located in
Luzon. There are no TSD facilities in the provinces of Cagayan
Valley and the Bicol region, however. Farther south, the Eastern
Visayas region and Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen in
Mindanao do not have waste treatment centers.
 In addition, municipal waste streams in cities will experience a surge
in the volume of disposables, increases in use of single-use plastic
bags, containers and utensils, and disruption of normal waste
management systems due to safety concerns and lockdowns.
(https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20200514)

 References

Asian Development Bank. (2017). A region at risk: The human dimensions of climate change in
Asia and the Pacific. Mandaluyong City: Asian Development Bank.

City Government of Malabon. (2019, June 25). Retrieved September 19, 2020, from
https://malabon.gov.ph/

Cruz, N. (2011, June 24). Growing up in the floods of Malabon. Retrieved September 19, 2020,
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DumagueteInfo. (n.d.). Malabon City: An Economic Coastal Hub. Retrieved September 19,
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ESSC. (2013). Fact Sheet: Habitat for Humanity Sites in Malabon and Navotas – Case Study.
Retrieved from https://essc.org.ph/content/archives/6658/

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