Abstract

The objective of the present investigation is to compare the pollution levels during the lockdown and unlock period to the pre-lockdown phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and intends to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 incidences and atmospheric in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Throughout the lockdown and unlock periods, pollutants in the atmosphere were significantly reduced; a significant reduction was observed in Hyderabad with higher traffic levels with a maximum reduction of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ levels (60.3% and 53.4%, respectively) compared to pre-lockdown levels. The number of COVID-19 cases relative to most of the air pollutants was negatively correlated, which may be a mere coincidence as a result of the lockdown. The correlation test reveals a positive association between the ambient temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases (r = 0.99, 0.07) during the lockdown phase and throughout the study period, suggests that the warm, tropical weather in the area of the study region is successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The findings of this study can help us comprehend how environmental variables play a part in the spread of COVID-19 in tropical and subtropical nations. The results of this study also suggest that temporary lockdowns useful tool for managing environmental imbalances.

Keywords

correlation, COVID–19, environmental variables, Hyderabad, lockdown