Covid-19: Clinical waste piles up amid pandemic

PUTRAJAYA: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount of clinical waste produced in 2020 grew by 18.1% to 39,900 tonnes from 33,800 tonnes in 2019, according to the State Environment Statistics 2021 report.

Selangor generated the most clinical waste in the year with 9,700 tonnes, followed by Sarawak (4,100 tonnes) and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (4,100 tonnes).

"The management of clinical waste was faced with a challenging task to handle disposed Covid-19 test equipment in health facilities and quarantine centres,” said chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin in a statement.

He said this in response to the report, which was released on Friday (April 29).

The report displayed environmental statistics for 14 states covering six components, namely environmental conditions and quality; environmental resources and their use; residuals; extreme events and disasters; human settlements and environmental health; and environmental protection, management and engagement.

Mohd Uzir also said most of the air quality status by station throughout Malaysia in 2020 recorded overall more days of "good" and "moderate" air quality status compared with 2019.

"For the first time, the road accident rate showed a very significant drop in 2020 since 1990," he said.

He said the movement control order had restricted industrial activities and the movement of people on the road, bringing a positive impact on the reduction of road accident cases in Malaysia. - Bernama