IJEP 41(11): 1203-1209 : Vol. 41 Issue. 11 (November 2021)
1. Sri Sivasurbramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Kalavakkam – 613 401, Tamil Nadu, India
2. National Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
The COVID-19 spread as a pandemic and more than 185 countries have suffered from it. Various strategies have been devised to combat the virus and prevent it from spreading. In India, lockdown had been initiated since 24th March 2020 and social gatherings had been restricted. But due to the slump in the economy and to boost up trade, certain manufacturing sectors have been opened and vehicular movement was relaxed. PM2.5 and NO2 levels started to rise drastically, which were initially reduced during the lockdown. Moreover, the recent Amphan super cyclonic storm may have increased the risk of COVID spread. A statistical Spearman correlation analysis of the air quality index (AQI) parameters with meteorological variables was carried out to ascertain the significance. Detailed epidemiological studies are warranted to confirm the spike in COVID positive cases may have been related to unforeseen torrential rains as a result of Amphan the cyclone and increased vehicular pollution.
Keywords
COVID-19, Lockdown, Air quality index parameters, Meteorological variables, Amphan cyclone
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