An Exploratory Analysis of Delhi Air Quality Using Statistics and Machine Learning Models

Air pollution is one of the most significant concerns of the present era, which has severe and alarming effects on human health and the environment, thereby escalating the climate change issue. Hence, in-depth analysis of air pollution data and accurate air quality forecasting is crucial in controlling the growing pollution levels. It also aids in designing appropriate policies to prevent exposure to toxic pollutants and taking necessary precautionary measures. Air quality in Delhi, the capital of India, is inferior compared to other major cities in the world. In this study, daily and hourly concentrations of air pollutants in the Delhi region were collected and analyzed using various methods. A comparative analysis is performed based on months, seasons, and the topography of different stations. The effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on the reduction of pollutant levels is also studied. A correlation analysis is performed on the available data to show the relationships and dependencies among different pollutants, their relationship with weather parameters, and the correlations between the stations. Various machine learning models were used for air quality forecasting, like Linear Regression, Vector Auto Regression, Gradient Boosting Machine, Random Forest, and Decision Tree Regression. The performance of these models was compared using RMSE, MAE, and MAPE metrics. This study is focused on the dire state of air pollution in Delhi, the primary reasons behind it, and the efficacy of calculated lockdowns in bringing down pollution levels. It also highlights the potential of Linear Regression and Decision Tree Regression models in predicting the air quality for different time intervals. © 2022 IEEE.

Understanding the shared working spaces: a Geography of Co-working supply in Delhi.

The present paper investigates the location pattern of co-working spaces in Delhi which is absent in the existing body of knowledge. Delhi is a political, administrative, educational, scientific and innovation capital that accommodates many co-working spaces in India. We developed Ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to understand the associations of co-working spaces of digital labourers with other urban socio-economic, services and lifestyle variables in Delhi using secondary data for 117 coworking locations in 280 municipal wards of NCT-Delhi. Model diagnostic suggested that the GWR model provides additional information regarding geographical distribution of coworking spaces, and density of bars, median house rent, fitness centres, metro train stations, restaurants, cinemas, cafés, and creative enterprises are statistically significant parameters to estimate them. The importance of coworking spaces has increased in the post-disaster period, so this study informs public policies to benefit people and companies who choose coworking routes, and recommends urban planners, developers, and real-estate professionals to consider the proximity of creative industries in planning and developing coworking spaces in the future. Also, in the post COVID-19 period, to increase local jobs and long-term place sustainability, a localised policy intervention for coworking spaces in Delhi is highly recommended.

The Struggle to Balance Work and Family Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights Based on the Situations of Working Women in Delhi.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated economic contraction across the world. In India, the stringent lockdown led to extreme distress. The unprecedented situation adversely affected the women's efforts to balance professional life with family life because of a disproportionate increase in their domestic work burden and a shift in their workstation to home. Since every job cannot be performed remotely, women employed in healthcare services, banks and media witnessed additional risks of commuting and physical interaction at the workplace. Based on personal interviews of women in the Delhi-NCR region, the study aims to explore the commonalities and variances in the challenges experienced by the women engaged in diverse occupations. Using the qualitative methodology of flexible coding, the study finds that a relatively larger section of women travelling to their office during the pandemic, rather than those working from home, had an effective familial support system that helped them navigate this tough time.

Neonates with Maternal Colonization of Carbapenemase-Producing, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: A Mini-Review and a Suggested Guide for Preventing Neonatal Infection.

Carbapenemase-producing, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) are highly drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. They include New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM)-producing carbapenemase (50.4% of all species in Ontario). Antibiotic challenges for resistant bacteria in neonates pose challenges of unknown dosing and side effects. We report two antenatally diagnosed CP-CRE colonization scenarios with the NDM 1 gene. The case involves extreme preterm twins who had worsening respiratory distress at birth requiring ventilator support, with the first twin also having cardiovascular instability. They were screened for CP-CRE, and a polymyxin antibiotic commenced. In the delivery room, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the follow-up clinic, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary group, contact precautions and isolation procedures were instituted. None of the infants exhibited infection with CP-CRE. Consolidating knowledge with regard to CP-CRE and modifying human behavior associated with its spread can mitigate potential negative consequences. This relates to now and later, when travel and prolific human to human contact resumes, from endemic countries, after the current COVID-19 pandemic. Standardized efforts to curb the acquisition of this infection would be judicious given the challenges of treatment and continued emerging antibiotic resistance. Simple infection control measures involving contact precautions, staff education and parental cohorting can be useful and cost-effective in preventing transmission. Attention to NICU specific measures, including screening of at-risk mothers (invitro fertilization conception) and their probands, careful handling of breastmilk, judicious antibiotic choice and duration of treatment, is warranted. What does this study add? CP-CRE is a nosocomial infection with increasing incidence globally, and a serious threat to public health, making it likely that these cases will present with greater frequency to the NICU team. Only a few similar cases have been reported in the neonatal literature. Current published guidelines provide a framework for general hospital management. Still, they are not specific to the NICU experience and the need to manage the parents' exposure and the infants. This article provides a holistic framework for managing confirmed or suspected cases of CP-CRE from the antenatal care through the NICU and into the follow-up clinic targeted at preventing or containing the spread of CP-CRE.

Mobility Privilege and COVID-19: Determinants of a Spatially Differentiated Experience in the Lockdown-ed Delhi Region

The singular form that the response to COVID-19 took, namely a general lockdown on the scale of entire countries, combined with the recurrence of this health threat, leads us to draw concrete conclusions from this episode of strict movement restriction in Delhi and its region. To the multitude of works that have dealt with this subject, the present study brings an analysis based on the contribution of massive data from a major social network, Facebook, which informs and quantifies the evolution of population flows before and after the implementation of the containment measures. By analyzing the socio-demographic characteristics of the affected territories, mobility is relocated at the intersection of active renunciation to movement for some high capital populations, and constrained continuation of physical motion for others. This critical framework allows us to define mobility not as a simple synonym of movement, but as a capacity that constitutes the privilege of implementing one's strategies in the various dimensions of space. That privilege was made particularly visible by the crisis, but one can wonder if it has been properly recognized in decision-making spheres. After having articulated hypotheses on the territorial dynamics that fuel those inequalities, this study observes how the circulation networks are rebuilding and questions what can be said about the relations between area types. Finally, a reflection is engaged on the data's blind spots, and on how digitization may also alter, if not distort, the understanding of mobility. © OpenEditions Journals. All Rights Reserved.

A modified variable‐order fractional SIR model to predict the spread of COVID‐19 in India

The first case of COVID‐19 in India detected on January 30, 2020, after its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The lockdown was imposed as anemergency measure by the Indian government to prevent the spread of COVID‐19 but gradually eased out due to its vast economic consequences. Just 15 days after the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, Delhi became India's worst city in terms of COVID‐19 cases. In this paper, we propose a variable‐order fractional SIR (susceptible, infected, removed) model at state‐level scale. We introduce a algorithm that uses the differential evolution algorithm in combination with Adam–Bashforth–Moulton method to learn the parameters in a system of variable‐order fractional SIR model. The model can predict the confirm COVID‐19 cases in India considering the effects of nationwide lockdown and the possible estimate of the number of infliction inactive cases after the removal of lockdown on June 1, 2020. A new parameter p is introduced in the classical SIR model representing the fraction of infected people that get tested and are thereby quarantined. The COVID‐19 trajectory in Delhi, as per our model, predicts the slowing down of the spread between January and February 2021, touching a peak of around 5 lakh confirmed cases. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Enhancing Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Resilience: A Study of Pharmaceutical Companies in Multiple Geographies

Background: Pharmaceutical businesses had enormous difficulties in product distribution during COVID-19, and the solution to this perpetual issue is a resilient supply chain. Aim(s): The study aims to understand the vulnerabilities to which it subjected the pharmaceutical product distribution supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and further develop an adaptive model through which the pharmaceutical product supply chain can enhance its resilience capabilities. Material(s) and Method(s): The conceptual model is developed for the supply chain of pharmaceutical companies based on the literature survey, and then the conceptual model is explored through factor analysis. Researchers have developed a validated model after a statistical analysis using Cronbach's alpha. Subjective analysis has concluded that the pharmaceutical supply chain's resilience is driven by factors such as "trade cost," which comprises transport cost, business practices, and raw material sourcing cost;"shock propagation," which comprises country-specific shocks, production shocks, and policy changes;and "technological infrastructure bottleneck," which relates to the availability of cold chain storage warehouses and refrigerated transport vehicle facilities. Result(s): An empirical model pertaining to supply chain resilience may be further studied with different geographies, like Pune, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR, for the purpose of generalizing the study. Conclusion(s): The identified major factors were trade cost, shock propagation, and technological infrastructure bottlenecks. The sensitivity of the issue under investigation required a personal touch to the survey, as the COVID-19 pandemic had left these respondents emotionally vulnerable. As COVID-19 is the recent catastrophe that has hit humanity, it has made the pharmaceutical product distribution channel vulnerable during the pandemic. This difficult time of pandemic has really tested the pharmaceutical products' supply chain capabilities as well.Copyright © 2023, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India. All rights reserved.

Human capital as an essential component of sustainability reporting during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study among employees in sedentary occupation

Introduction: With the ongoing pandemic, sustainability reporting regarding its different components and stakeholders needs modifications accordingly. These modifications are required because of the new challenges and opportunities emerging in the face of Covid-19 with regards to various guiding components of sustainability reporting. One such component that gained much popularity during the pandemic is 'Human Capital'. Maintaining the wellbeing of the employees is one of the essential elements of the human capital of the organization or firm. Objective(s): To study the association of sedentary behavior and physical activity of the respondents to their health. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional study has been conducted within the region of Delhi-NCR for a sample size of 147 which was calculated. Result(s): No association of health outcomes was found with sedentary behavior and physical activity. Although no association was found between current health outcomes and sedentary behavior, there had been a tremendous increase in the sedentary lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion(s): Sustainability reporting should mention a transparent report regarding the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees and shall provide effective solutions for dealing with the long-term impacts of the pandemic on the employees' health.

An empirical analysis of Delhi's air quality throughout different COVID-19 pandemic waves

Delhi was one of India's COVID-19 hotspots, with significant death rates during the year 2021. This study looked at the link between COVID-19 cases in Delhi, and key meteorological variables. The study found that COVID-19 cases during the second wave (P2-March- May 2021) were much higher than during the first wave (P1-Jan-Feb 2021) in Delhi. During P1 (Jan-Feb 2021) the mean PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and CO concentrations were greater than that of P2 (March-May 2021) while the reverse happened for SO2 and O3. Spearman correlation test indicated that COVID-19 cases maintained a significant positive correlation with the high temperature of P2 (March-May 2021) and high humidity of P1 (Jan-Feb 2021) in line with the accepted notion that COVID-19 transmitted favourably in hot and humid climates. The Multilayer perceptron (MLP) model indicated that COVID-19 spread was supported by air pollutants and climate variables like PM2.5, NO2, RH, and WS in P1(Jan-Feb 2021) and PM2.5 and O3 in P2 (March-May 2021). Owing to chemical coupling, across all six monitoring stations, O3 maintained an inverse relationship with NO2 throughout the COVID-19 phases in Delhi. The city dwellers had health risks also due to PM pollution at varying degrees, indicated by high hazard quotients (HQs), requiring lowering of air pollution concentrations on an urgent basis. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Applied & Natural Science is the property of Applied & Natural Science Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

A prospective and observational study to evaluate short-term adverse event following immunization of COVID-19 vaccination

Background: COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared Pandemic by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020. Vaccination represents the best possibility to resolve this pandemic. The current global challenge is the immunization against the SARS-CoV-2. However, the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) of the corona vaccine remains unclear. Aim and Objectives: This observational study aims to represent an accountable data of the AEFI between Covaxin and Covishield in North Indian population. Materials and Methods: The hospital-based prospective and observational study was employed from January 2021 to December 2021 for detecting and monitoring of AEFI in adults. All population vaccinated either covishield or covaxin with both doses were enrolled in the study as targeted population. Post-vaccination vaccinated population were telephonic follow-up with prior consent. Results: A total of 1015 vaccinated individuals were included in this study for assessment of AEFI. After statistical analysis of AEFI between both vaccination at 24 h P = 0.13, 3-7 days 0.4 and complete AEFI P = 0.06 observed. There is no association that was found significant P < 0.05 with the incidence of AEFI. Conclusion: The short-term outcome has not attribute any serious AEFI. This study demonstrated that both vaccines were well-tolerated and safe in generalized population.

COVID-19 And Rule By Decree–A Case Study Of The NCT of Delhi

The article attempts a quantitative as well as a qualitative analysis of the National Capital Territory ("NCT”) of Delhi's legislative productivity in the year 2020. The Legislative Assembly of Delhi produced only one piece of substantive legislation throughout the year, sitting for one of its fewest number of sessions. However, the business of the Government continued to run apace through several subordinate legislations. While most of these pertained to routine matters of day-to-day administration, two primary regulations embodied the entirety of the State's pandemic response on the back of a colonial-era skeleton legislation. The article discusses the constitutional questions of concern raised by such promulgation of subordinate legislations, while acknowledging the backdrop of the emergency nature of the pandemic and the unique power-sharing arrangement in the Constitution of India regarding the National Capital Territory of Delhi. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis.

Investigation of Changes in Atmospheric Pollutants due to the Cessation of Anthropogenic Activities: Spatial Heterogeneity and Complex Atmospheric Chemistry

The current study examines the air quality trends in response to Covid-19-induced lockdowns at various locations in Delhi. The primary pollutants like NO2, CO, and PM10 have shown reductions during the lockdown phase, but the magnitude varied significantly in different places. Also, during the lockdown, air quality in some areas of Delhi exceeded National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Secondary pollutants like O3 have shown mixed trends due to complex atmospheric processes and dependence on relative proportions of VOC and NOx levels. A total of six sites, including traffic, industrial, and residential sites, have been studied. The diurnal behavior of pollutants also differed significantly around different places. During the lockdown, Ashok Vihar, a traffic-influenced area, showed a decrease in O3 (~ 40%), while at DTU (Traffic site), O3 levels increased (~ 48%). The industrial sites Okhla and Wazirpur also showed different trends during the lockdown;O3 in Wazirpur decreased by 50%, whereas Okhla increased by 25%. NOx concentration was lesser in 2020 at all the stations compared to 2019, indicating the positive impact of the lockdown on air pollution due to vehicular emissions. The Approximate Envelope Method estimates the secondary fraction of PM2.5. This fraction of PM is dominated in the lockdown year in the residential site, while it remains unchanged in the traffic site and increased by 11% in the industrial area. Despite being not so far from each other, these sites show very different patterns of pollutants during lockdown episodes. © 2023, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy Sciences.

Does air quality influence the spread of the SARS - Cov2 in metropolitan cities? - a case study from urban India

COVID 19 pandemic has gradually established itself as the worst pandemic in the last hundred years around the world after initial outbreak in China, including India. To prevent the spread of the infection the Government implemented lockdown measure initially from 24th March to 14th April, 2020 which was later extended to 3rd May, 2020. This lockdown imposed restrictions in human activities, vehicular movements and industrial functioning;resulting in reduced pollution level in the cities. This study was initiated with the objective to identify the change in the air quality of seven megacities in India and to determine any correlation between the active COVID cases with the air quality parameters. Air quality dataset of the most common parameters (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, NH3, CO and Ozone) along with air quality index for 70 stations of seven megacities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Chandigarh) were analysed. Comparison was made between AQI of pre lockdown and during lockdown periods. The results obtained indicate sufficient improvement in air quality during the period of the lockdown. For the next part of the study active COVID cases during the lockdown were compared to the air quality change of that period. A significant correlation between active COVID case and change in the air quality was observed for Delhi and Kolkata with 0.51 and 0.64 R2 values respectively. A positive correlation was also observed between air pollutant parameters and incidents of COVID cases in this study. Thus from the analysis it was identified that air quality index improved considerably as a result of the nationwide lockdown however, there was no significant impact of this improvement on the infection rate of the prevailing pandemic.

Associated impact of the COVID-19 induced lockdown on air quality of Kolkata Metropolitan Area (India)

As a pandemic, COVID 19 spread worldwide in early 2020. Primarily densely populated countries had remained vulnerable due to this biological hazard. Many people were forced to stay home owing to nature of the disease and no respite. A nationwide lockdown was implemented in India for 29 days (March 24th to April 21st) of 2020 during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the nationwide lockdown, industries, transport, and other commercial activities were suspended, except for necessary services. During the entire pandemic situation, an affirmative impact was observed as the air quality was reported to have improved worldwide. The complete economic lockdown to check COVID-19, brought unforeseen relief from severe condition of air quality. An apparent, reduction in level of PM2.5 and Air Quality Index (AQI) was experienced over Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Present work explores the various metrics of air pollution in Kolkata, West Bengal, India (imposed as a result of containment measure for COVID-19). The polluting parameters (e.g., PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, O3, and NH3) were chosen for seven monitoring stations (Ballygunge, Fort William, Victoria, Bidhannagar, Jadavpur, Rabindra Bharati, Rabindra Sarabar), which are spread across the metropolitan area of Kolkata. National Air Quality Index (NAQI) has been used to show pre-and during-lockdown air quality spatial patterns. The findings showed major changes in air quality throughout the lockdown period. The highest reduction in pollutants emission was observed for: PM10 (- 60.82%), PM2.5 (-45.05%) and NO2 (-62.27%), followed by NH3 (- 32.12%) and SO2 (-32.00%), CO (-47.46%), O3 (15.10%). During the lockdown, the NAQI value was reduced by 52.93% in the study area. © 2022 University of Craiova, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography. All rights reserved.

Childbirth experience of mothers in COVID times

Background: The present study aims to understand the perceptions, apprehensions, and fears of peripartum COVID-positive women in low-resource settings. Study design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methodology: All COVID-positive postpartum women who delivered in the institution (vaginal delivery and cesarean section) were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included ICU admission and known mental illness. Results: A total of 61 COVID-positive women delivered in the facility during the study period. About 33 out of 61 women were nulliparous, while 28 were multigravida. Two babies tested positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours of birth. Majority of the patients were anxious prior to coming to hospital (51/61, i.e., 83.6%). The most common perceived fear reported by patients was fear of not receiving support from partner and provider (80%). Due to restrictions imposed on birth companion, 80% (49/61) women feared loneliness during labor. Apprehension of not receiving respectful maternity care was experienced by 75.4% (46/61) of women. Only 16 (26.2%) patients feared progression of disease, and 32 women (52%) were afraid of infection being transmitted to baby. However, 85% of the women reported a positive birthing experience. Good support from the family was observed in 76% of women. Despite regular visits by the doctors, eight patients (13%) felt a lack of connect due to the prevailing situation. Inability to celebrate joyful moments with family, neonatal separation, and delay in discharge were the major causes of discontent among the postpartum women. Conclusion: The study shows that the excitement and joy of pregnancy and delivery in pre-COVID times has been replaced by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty in this COVID era. Strategies, like good communication and provision of adequate support, may be particularly useful to help these women have a positive birthing experience.

National Book Trust, India Knowledge partner of the nation

The journey of National Book Trust, India (NBT, in short) is the journey of the explora-tion, development and promotion of Indian content through Indian languages in the post-independence era. For NBT, there was no hierarchy of languages and scholarship as it sourced content for all age groups in all lan-guages to be translated into other languages - hence the emphasis on developing 'common' books to read from regardless of the initial language of creation. Established and visual-ized as the national body for both book pub-lishing and promotion, NBT's ambit naturally extends to creating platforms to promote the culture of reading and book-mindedness. Interactive and pioneering platforms like the New Delhi World Book Fair have helped build a visible book-reading tradition in the country, which is being taken forward with renewed fervour while meeting the chal-lenges of the post-Covid era.

Insights on Air Pollution During COVID-19: A Review

Air quality improved due to a sudden reduction in the mass concentration of criteria pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NOx, CO, SO2) except ozone (O-3) over cities of the world during the novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) lockdown. Such reduction in pollutants concentration during the lockdown period is an indicator of pollutants contributed from human-induced sources. The elevated ozone level during the lockdown period is explained by shifted NOx-mediated reaction towards volatile organic carbon (VOCs) mediated reaction. The reduction in pollutants concentration and improved air quality is not uniform for outdoor and indoor environments. The indoor air quality is quite poor compared to outdoor throughout the lockdown period. The degradation in indoor air quality is associated with increased human activities and the degree of ventilation inside the home. The number of active COVID-19 cases is associated with air quality over a region. The improved air quality helped in a reduction in COVID-19 virus transmission among the people. Present review articles provide detailed insight into current research progress, the impact of lockdowns on outdoor and indoor air quality in different cities of the world. Further, this review articles provide a detailed overview of an elevated O-3 level during the lockdown period and the mechanism of formation.

NDM-producing Enterobacterales prevalence associated to COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital.

Colonizations/Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are of great clinical and epidemiological importance due to their rapid dissemination and high mortality rates. In this scenario, the use of antibiotics intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a great warning on the real impact that this pandemic could have on antimicrobial management programs and long-term antimicrobial resistance rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the increase of New Delhi Metallo ß-Lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales cases in COVID-19 units of a complex Brazilian tertiary hospital. This retrospective observational study included all patients admitted to the hospital identified as colonized or infected by NDM-producing Gram negative bacilli (GNB), from January 2017 to April 2021. Forty-two NDM-producing Enterobacterales were identified in 39 patients. The rate of NDM cases per total surveillance cultures increased progressively between 2017 and 2021 (chi-2 for trend, p < 0.0001) and was associated with a higher occurrence specifically in COVID units (Fisher exact, p < 0.0001). The molecular investigation of the NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains revealed the emergence of diverse clones during the COVID-19 period, also with possible evidence of horizontal transmission among patients within COVID units. NDM-producing Enterobacterales with multiple and different clonalities in the COVID-19 units also raised questions about the importance of other factors besides horizontal clonal transfer, including the increase of antimicrobial consumption by these patients.

Did unprecedented air pollution levels cause spike in Delhi's COVID cases during second wave?

The onset of the second wave of COVID-19 devastated many countries worldwide. Compared with the first wave, the second wave was more aggressive regarding infections and deaths. Numerous studies were conducted on the association of air pollutants and meteorological parameters during the first wave of COVID-19. However, little is known about their associations during the severe second wave of COVID-19. The present study is based on the air quality in Delhi during the second wave. Pollutant concentrations decreased during the lockdown period compared to pre-lockdown period (PM2.5: 67 µg m-3 (lockdown) versus 81 µg m-3 (pre-lockdown); PM10: 171 µg m-3 versus 235 µg m-3; CO: 0.9 mg m-3 versus 1.1 mg m-3) except ozone which increased during the lockdown period (57 µg m-3 versus 39 µg m-3). The variation in pollutant concentrations revealed that PM2.5, PM10 and CO were higher during the pre-COVID-19 period, followed by the second wave lockdown and the lowest in the first wave lockdown. These variations are corroborated by the spatiotemporal variability of the pollutants mapped using ArcGIS. During the lockdown period, the pollutants and meteorological variables explained 85% and 52% variability in COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths (determined by General Linear Model). The results suggests that air pollution combined with meteorology acted as a driving force for the phenomenal growth of COVID-19 during the second wave. In addition to developing new drugs and vaccines, governments should focus on prediction models to better understand the effect of air pollution levels on COVID-19 cases. Policy and decision-makers can use the results from this study to implement the necessary guidelines for reducing air pollution. Also, the information presented here can help the public make informed decisions to improve the environment and human health significantly.

Increased Risk of Acquisition of New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) among a Cohort of COVID-19 Patients in a Teaching Hospital in Tuscany, Italy.

We describe the epidemiology of New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) colonization/infection in a cohort of COVID-19 patients in an Italian teaching hospital. These patients had an increased risk of NDM-CRE acquisition versus the usual patients (75.9 vs. 25.3 cases/10,000 patient days). The co-infection significantly increased the duration of hospital stay (32.9 vs. 15.8 days).