Indonesia struggles with mounting medical waste from Covid-19, raising infection fears

Masks and gloves are found scattered among daily household garbage sent to Sumur Batu in Bekasi on the outskirts of Jakarta. - The Straits Times/Asian News Network

SINGAPORE/JAKARTA, July 18 (The Straits Times/ANN): Surgical masks, gloves, face shields and fluid bags have been found scattered among daily household rubbish at two dumpsites in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, raising fears that waste pickers and residents nearby could be infected by the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, healthcare waste made up 16 per cent of the total garbage floating in Cilincing and Marunda river estuaries in Jakarta Bay in March and April this year.