ABSTRACT
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented movement control orders (MCO). Globally, including in Malaysia, such bans have reduced pollution. Thus, this study used remote sensing to examine the particle dispersion and intensity of PM10. Unlike previous research, this technique used Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) satellite images to estimate anthropogenic level changes within the study area. Eight models are used to estimate PM10 levels. The models work well because they were developed and tested in India, which has a similar climate to Malaysia. Two models returned results that matched the study area's CAQMs station. Between 10th March 2020 and 26th March 2020 the CAQMS showed an average PM10 concentration of 17-32 g/m3. The pixel based PM10 estimation is 30-35% off in g/m3. However, the percent reduction of PM10 before and during MCO was within 2% of Model 5 and 7. Incorporating geospatial technology into baseline studies to assess current air quality is clearly beneficial. Since the first MCO in March 2020, toxic pollution emissions have decreased significantly. © 2022, Prince of Songkla University. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide. The role of fomites in facilitating onward transmission is plausible. This study aimed to determine the presence of viable virus and its persistence on the surfaces of fomites in wards treating COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. This study was conducted in two stages. First, environmental sampling was performed on random days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and general wards. Then, in the second stage, samples were collected serially on alternate days for 7 days in two selected general wards. In Stage 1, a total of 104 samples were collected from the surfaces of highly touched and used areas by patients and healthcare workers. Only three samples were tested positive for SARS-COV-2. In Stage 2, three surface samples were detected positive, but no persistence of the virus was observed. However, none of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was viable through tissue culture. Overall, the environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 was low in this hospital setting. Hospitals' strict infection control and the compliance of patients with wearing masks may have played a role in these findings, suggesting adherence to those measures to reduce occupational exposure of COVID-19 in hospital settings.