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Social Distancing Measures Following COVID-19 Epidemics Had Positive Environmental Consequences

Author

Listed:
  • Maurizio Malpede
  • Marco Percoco
  • Valentina Bosetti

Abstract

At the time of this communication (March 12, 2020), there have been 126,660 cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide, with 68,305 individuals having recovered and 4,641 deaths registered. The speed of the disease's spatial diffusion was unprecedented: the first reported case was documented on December 8, 2019 in Wuhan, and by January 28, 2020, there were more than 800 cases internationally. Though the majority was concentrated in China, the virus had spread to Japan, South Korea, the U.S.A., Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Vietnam. In an attempt to contain the spread of the virus, beginning on January 23, residents of Wuhan were placed under quarantine, immediately followed by the cities of Huanggang and Ezhou. Authorities went on to cancel Chinese New Year celebrations. As a result of the slowdown of economic and social activities, pollution began to contract. Satellite-based observations detected a contraction of 10-30% in NO2 and PM2.5. Our analysis suggests that voluntary and imposed social distancing measures to fight COVID-19 could substantially impact pollution depending on the pollutants considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Maurizio Malpede & Marco Percoco & Valentina Bosetti, 2020. "Social Distancing Measures Following COVID-19 Epidemics Had Positive Environmental Consequences," GREEN Working Papers 07, GREEN, Centre for Research on Geography, Resources, Environment, Energy & Networks, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcu:greewp:greenwp07
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    File URL: https://repec.unibocconi.it/iefe/bcu/papers/GREEN_wp07.pdf
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