The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected people’s lives. It has also made an impact on the environment.

More than a year into the health crisis, we’re seeing a new issue that’s floating on our oceans: Surgical face masks, which people wear every day to protect themselves from the coronavirus, now pose a threat to marine life.

In the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported that 52,000 tons of medical waste have been generated since the pandemic began. Some of these go to the oceans.

In Bauan, Batangas, locals and divers report a rise in the number of surgical face masks being collected from the ocean. Watch this video. – Rappler.com