A Critical Analysis of Covid-19 with Special Emphasis on Air Quality and its Consequences during Lockdown

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) has taken over the world. The deadly virus causes serious respiratory infections in humans. A number of research are ongoing to contain the spread of the virus. The aim of this review is to assess the impact of air pollution and environmental factors which may influence the transmission of the disease. The utilization of indigenous natural sources as remedial measures has also been explored. The studies cited in the review have been sourced from journals, books and digital media reports. The research papers indexed in databases such as PUBMED, SCOPUS and MEDLINE, etc., have been included. Evidence has suggested that the spike in air pollution may exacerbate the number of infections and the improved air quality during the lockdown period may influence the faster recovery rate. Environmental factors, like temperature, humidity and air pollution have been explored as contributing factors for the facilitated spread of the infection, or atleast in making people more vulnerable to it which makes it an issue of considerable attention in developing countries, like India, due to the high air pollution levels in megacities. © 2022 - Kalpana Corporation.