The relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 cases and large-scale social restriction’s impact on the air quality in Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that COVID-19 is a global pandemic and public health emergency. COVID-19 was an infectious disease, and it could remain viable in ambient air for hours. Therefore, this study examines the correlation between air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3) and COVID-19 spread in Jakarta, Indonesia. Also, it evaluates the impact of large-scale social restriction (LSSR) on the air pollution index (API). The air pollutant and COVID-19 data were investigated in three different periods; in 2019, before LSSR, and during LSSR periods. The correlation analysis between air pollutant and COVID-19 cases were analyzed using Spearman correlation test. The study found that the air pollution index of PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, and NO2 decreased by 9.48%, 15.74%, 29.17%, 6.26%, and 18.34% during LSSR period. While O3 showed an increase of 4.06%. Another result also found significant positive correlations of SO2, CO, and PM2.5 with COVID-19 cases. Exposure to SO2, CO and PM2.5 has driven the area to become vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Our findings indicated that the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 spread could provide a new notion for precaution and control method of COVID-19 outbreak.