The implications of COVID-19 in the ambient environment and psychological conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has posed a huge threat to mankind, deeply endangering healthy states and influencing economic development. COVID-19 has important impacts on the environment as anthropic interventions to nature has been largely reduced after almost all countries implemented partial or complete blockade to curb the spread of the virus. Up to now, a series of studies have focused on the relationship between COVID-19 and the environment from different cities. In this review, we summarized the latest data on the correlation between COVID-19 and environmental changes. As a result, imposing necessary restrictions can help suppress the virus chain while improving air quality in some countries. The significant reduction in NO₂ emission, PM2.5 level and other hazardous factors reflected the promising consequence of the efforts made during the lockdown period. It is, sometimes dark clouds have silver linings. It is worth noting that along with these positive outcomes, secondary pollutants such as ozone, however, remained unchanged or even increased significantly. Additionally, medical wastes and plastics pollutants would be increased substantially. The extensive use of masks in daily life and other medical materials is bound to increase the burden of waste disposal and environmental degradation. For the general public, in addition to the physical lesions caused by SARS-CoV-2, confirmed/suspected cases and even the normal group may suffer from mental problems. Based on those mentioned impacts, the way forward depends largely on our attitude and decision. It is indispensable to assess potential deleterious effects and to take preventive measures in time to respond to the post-pandemic era. In this way, potential silver linings will not become temporary.