Are you disposing your face mask in Dubai responsibly?

Mask is mandatory to combat the virus but the masks are adding to environmental crisis. Irresponsible disposal of masks and gloves is becoming a community problem in Dubai.

Despite a fine being imposed masks are been disposed every where from roadside to sea shores giving rise to a new environmental threat of mask pollution.

Police have confirmed that they will slap fines against people who throw their used face masks and gloves on the road.

In a statement issued across its social networking sites, Abu Dhabi Police said they will issue a Dh1,000 fine and six black points if motorists are caught carrying out such types of irresponsible behaviour, which not only harms the environment but also poses a risk to public safety.

The correct way to safely discard a face mask is to place it in a plastic bag and then put it in a dustbin. You should also wash your hands after handling the used mask.

Throwing used masks and gloves, if contaminated, could spread coronavirus COVID-19. Carrying out preventive measures to curb the virus was a common responsibility shared by every member of the community.

Even as cases of COVID 19 have been steadily falling and rate of recoveries have gone up, the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) public health department has issued an advisory to residents to continue to follow rules of social distancing, hand washing and wearing of masks to ensure a healthy and happy Eid Al Adha.

New research suggests masks lead to milder disease, reducing hospitalisations and deaths.

Wastes such as used masks and gloves can add to the landfill and also pollute our oceans and desert.