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COVID-19 outbreak: Study of its impact on global environment

Abstract

The Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious viral disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). It is characterized by cough, fever, breathlessness, and sore throat. In the present scenario, more than 220 regions and countries have widely been struck by this pandemic, along with an increased death rate. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has badly influenced each and every country on this planet. Since every coin has two perceptions and in this regard to this pandemic, it has also proved the same. It has quickly spread all over the world causing the deleterious effect on health, environment, and economy. In the latest research studies, the positive influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the environment has been analyzed and interpreted. The experts of the climate studies revealed that there is a decrease in the percentage emissions of greenhouse gases which were minimized to 22.9 μg/m3 and 12.10 μg/m3 in Wuhan and China respectively, significant minimization in noise pollution was also notable, improved water quality due to lack of human interference, the carbon emission is being reduced to 17 percent globally. This could lead to a decrease in annual carbon emissions up to 7 percent. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries are incomplete lockdown stage. Even seafood and wildlife markets are completely shattered, as a result of which the rate of hunting and poaching of animals has also reduced to some extent. Along with the positive impact on the environment, there are many negative outcomes of COVID-19 on the environment such as increased rate of production of waste,reduction inwaste recycling etc. As per the latest reports of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), there is a worldwide reduction in aircraft flights because of the spread of coronavirus, this eventually results in decreased accuracy of weather forecasting and commercial airlines citing. Therefore, the article summarizes the significant positive and negative outcomes of COVID-19 on the global environment.

Tooba Qamar and Prachi Srivastava

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