For World Wildlife Day, the Department of Environment and National Resources led a beach cleanup in the Las Pinas-Paranaque area. Among the garbage pile they collected was, to no one's surprise, a used face mask.
In this pandemic, face mask are supposed to catch respiratory droplets and prevent them from entering the nose and mouth. Assume that the exposed side of the mask is contaminated.
The World Health Organization recommends placing used face masks in the trash bin. Hospitals, of course, dispose of medical grade face masks in a different way. After putting the used mask in the bin, the WHO recomments thorough hand washing.
MORE ON FACE MASKS:
Yes, You Can Wash Cloth Face Masks in the Washing Machine
Are Two Face Masks Better Than One? WHO Replies
Wednesday's clean-up is part of a host of activities that aims to raise awareness on the "the links between our planet’s forest and woodlands as well as its manifold benefits to humanity", DENR on Facebook said.
The COVID-19 pandemic that has drastically changed life in the past year, couldn't have happened if not for man's disruption of nature, particularly wildlife, scientists have said.
In 2020, the deaths of conservations icons, Kali the Tamaraw and Pag-asa the Philippine eagle, sounded the alarm about the state of wildlife conservation in the country.
Here are more photos:
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