Exposure to air pollutants cause severe health issues. Restriction onmajor activities induced by government improves the air quality during the lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic. Investigation of correlation of high level of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus2 and its mortality rate with ground level particulate matter concentration was carried out in this study during the second wave of covid-19 in the megacity Delhi, India. Daily average concentration of major two fractions of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 were analyzed for the period of 22 March 2021 to 15 May 2021 that grouped into two categories before lockdown and during lockdown. Results revealed that overall reduction of 1.6% in PM2.5 concentration and 15% in PM10 concentration was observed on imposing the lockdown and significant reduction in Particulate Matter concentration was observed for most of the locations for the lockdown period as compared to before lockdown period. Furthermore daily new Covid-19 cases and its death rate was found negatively associated (very weak correlation) with the ground level concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 i.e. before lockdown period while positive association (moderately correlated) was noticed among the daily new Covid-19 cases, its death rate, ground level concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 in time period of lockdown. This Study revealed that the high degree of atmospheric contamination in Northern India can be deemed an external co-factor in the area's high mortality and high positivity rate during the second wave Covid19 pandemic.
Is Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10, a Factor of Surge of 2nd Wave of COVID-19- A Case Study of Delhi, India?