Since November 2019, COVID-19 has strongly hit China and, shortly after, the whole world. Portugal was one of the affected countries. Europe even more. The USA even more than Europe. An epidemic that quickly became a pandemic changed the behavior of almost everyone.
The Sobrado landfill, in Valongo, continues with the business of importing waste, but this time there is an added concern as it is receiving hospital waste from various parts of the north of the country and also from Italy. This situation caught the attention of the “Jornada Principal” association, which, for fear of the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak, demanded, as a way of mitigating risks to public health, the incineration of such waste with a classification related to its hazardousness of Group 1 and 2 (Group 1 being the lowest degree of danger).
It was relievingly that this week the much awaited Antonov plane landed in Porto with medical help to support the national health system. This time 3.5 million masks, 300,000 caps, 100,000 gowns and other protective materials arrived for the doctors, urses and other health professionals who are on the front line in fighting against covid-19. These 80 tons of disposable personal protective material will end up in a landfill and this will obviously have various repercussions.
The recent outbreak of Coronavirus, a disease declared a pandemic, has had enormous repercussions not only at the national level, but also worldwide. From stopped cities, closed borders to paralyzed factories, there are numerous obvious consequences that the “plague” has caused.Despite these misfortunes, it is possible to verify some positive impacts, environmental issues, showing an opportunity to rethink our lifestyle.
Advantages and disadvantages of a pandemic that has made 25 countries declare a state of emergency.
In the fight against the pandemic all ways have been used with a human effort never seen before in the world, proving that the human being is able, when united, to overcome many challenges ahead. This noisy epidemic contrasts with the epidemic that happens at sea and that influences the life of all living beings on the planet. The sea needs solutions, not problems!
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavírus (SARS-COV-2). This pandemic started three months ago and we are already feeling changes in our lives. But, what’re the environmental impacts of it?
“There is no plan B for the Montijo airport”, said António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, to TSF radio when one more blockade was imposed to the construction of the new Portuguese aerial platform, this time coming from the city council. In the last few months, the progress in the works of the construction of the new airport has been none, and the oppositions, in a huge number.
On February 25th, Banco Português de Germoplasma Vegetal delivered 972 samples of corn, beans and wheat to the world ‘seed vault’ in Norway.
Currently, many counties are opting for street disinfection in order to prevent the disease “SARS-CoV-2”. This measure is not mandatory and is causing many discussions and a lot of controversy. According to the Director – General of Health Services (DGS), in relation to disinfection, said that, “There is no scientific evidence that they are effective” and therefore “it is not a measure that is recommended”.
Young Reporters for the Environment 