A vulnerability-based approach to human-mobility reduction for countering COVID-19 transmission in London while considering local air quality

Manu Sasidharan, Ajit Singh, Mehran Eskandari Torbaghan, Ajith Kumar Parlikad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

An ecologic analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between air pollution, and COVID-19 cases and fatality rates in London. The analysis demonstrated a strong correlation (R2 > 0.7) between increment in air pollution and an increase in the risk of COVID-19 transmission within London boroughs. Particularly, strong correlations (R2 > 0.72) between the risk of COVID-19 fatality and nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution concentrations were found. Although this study assumed the same level of air pollution across a particular London borough, it demonstrates the possibility to employ air pollution as an indicator to rapidly identify the city's vulnerable regions. Such an approach can inform the decisions to suspend or reduce the operation of different public transport modes within a city. The methodology and learnings from the study can thus aid in public transport's response to COVID-19 outbreak by adopting different levels of human-mobility reduction strategies based on the vulnerability of a given region.
Original languageEnglish
Article number140515
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume741
Issue number2020
Early online date25 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2020

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