Eco-Environmental Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Control Strategies

Rashid Nazir, Jawad Ali, Ijaz Rasul, Emilie Widemann and Sarfraz Shafiq
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Rashid Nazir: Department of Environmental Sciences, Abbottabad Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, University Road, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan
Jawad Ali: Department of Biotechnology, Abbottabad Campus, Tobe Camp, COMSATS University Islamabad, University Road, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan
Ijaz Rasul: Plant Virology Section, Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Emilie Widemann: Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5B7, Canada
Sarfraz Shafiq: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A3K7, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: A new coronavirus-strain from a zoonotic reservoir (probably bat)—termed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—has recently claimed more than two million deaths worldwide. Consequently, a burst of scientific reports on epidemiology, symptoms, and diagnosis came out. However, a comprehensive understanding of eco-environmental aspects that may contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread is still missing, and we therefore aim to focus here on these aspects. In addition to human–human direct SARS-CoV-2 transmission, eco-environmental sources, such as air aerosols, different public use objects, hospital wastes, livestock/pet animals, municipal wastes, ventilation facilities, soil and groundwater potentially contribute to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further, high temperature and humidity were found to limit the spread of COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to decrease air and noise pollution during the period of lockdown, increased use of masks and gloves is threatening the environment by water and soil pollutions. COVID-19 badly impacted all the socio-economic groups in different capacities, where women, slum dwellers, and the people lacking social protections are the most vulnerable. Finally, sustainable strategies, waste management, biodiversity reclaim, eco-friendly lifestyle, improved health infrastructure and public awareness, were proposed to minimize the COVID-19 impact on our society and environment. These strategies will seemingly be equally effective against any future outbreak.

Keywords: COVID-19; virus; environment; ecology; viral spread; disease outbreak; SARS-CoV-2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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