Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (β-coronavirus) in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019 has created unprecedented devastating effects on social, economic, public health, and global environmental status with an alarming spike in mortality and morbidity. Preventive measures targeted at reducing and preventing the communal transmission of the virus varied from travel restrictions, contact tracing, social distancing etiquettes, good hygiene and ethanol sterilizer usage, face masks, and performance of massive COVID-19 screening tests. These practices indicate that priority has been solely hinged on public health safety, but little is being done on important environmental implications of the virus. It is highly likely that some countries may forgo sustainable environmental impact assessment of the virus but focus on pursuing rapid economic growth of the nations. However, it is logical to state that an improvement of environmental quality and climate systems would generate a consequential improvement in the economy and hence the health and well-being of citizens. The environmental impact of COVID-19 offers direct and indirect benefits/disadvantages to public health, economy, and sociocultural development of people. One of the response methodologies currently being practiced all over the world is partial/total lockdown, which has generated a reduction in carbon footprint in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manufacturing industries, smoke emission from oil and its products' usage, and an obvious decline in nitrogen oxide (NO2) concentration in European countries such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, as a result of reduction in anthropogenic-based activities. Beaches and recreational centers have been deserted, indicating a reduction in waste load generated by tourists and a significant noise reduction due to non-patronage of mass transit/public transportation systems, which may increase transmission risk of COVID-19. Gradual ease of lockdown protocols required some firms to institute COVID-19 work ethics – one of which requires the repeal of disposable bags and containers, while embracing single-use packaging and online ordering of necessities in order to reduce virus transmission. As much as this offers a preventive approach of the virus transmission and infection, it however poses a negative effect on the environment because recycling programs have been reportedly suspended in many countries and sustainable waste management is greatly inhibited. Further, plastic pollution of waterways was recorded in China where plastic-made medical masks (made of polypropylene) were collected from the sea by some environmentalists and concluded that COVID-19 measures created a surge in water pollution indices. The study aimed at analyzing the myriad effects of COVID-19 on environmental parameters by evaluating the current global status of COVID-19 and also proffering well-informed and sustainable solutions to assess the environmental effects of the pandemic.
Published Version
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