(Photo: CGTN)

The fight against coronavirus goes well beyond hospitals and treatment centers. Proper disposal of medical waste is paramount to stop the spread of germs and infections. But experts say those treating medical waste have done an exceptional job.

The daily disposal capacity for the nation has increased by 23 percent, from some 4,900 tons before the epidemic to the current level of more than 6,000 tons, according to Zhao Qunying, an official from the Chinese Ministry of Ecology & Environment.

"The medical waste takes up about 20 percent of the total and it can be disposed of within the day," said Zhao. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, central China's Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan have been facing heavy pressure in this sector. 

Wuhan's stock of medical waste once reached 190 tons, but it was all disposed of by March 2. 

And sewage discharge from key hospitals was also strictly monitored. 

"The online monitoring system on sewage discharge was set up at the beginning in Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals. The indicators, particularly residual chlorine, meets proper standards since we started the observation," Zhao said. 

In Wuhan and across the country, since late January, over 320,000 people have been mobilized to solve various problems in waste sorting, like timely movement and disinfection of it. 

China has disposed of 136,000 tons of medical waste since the COVID-19 outbreak in late January.

Experts say from January 20 to March 7, the quality of air, surface water and drinking water across the country was not adversely affected by epidemic control and prevention. 

And the ministry says that medical waste disposal in China, particularly in the city of Wuhan, is still in high-load operation and they will continue to keep watch and make sure there are no mistakes at this critical juncture.