Impact of suspending traffic management plan in Tehran on air quality and COVID-19 mortality and morbidity

Masoumeh Rahmatinia; Anooshiravan  Mohseni Bandpey; Abbas Shahsavani; Mostafa Hadei; Ahmad  Jonidi Jafari; Alireza Raeisi; Vajeh Hasanzade; Alireza Zali; Maryam Yarahmadi; Majid Kermani; Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh; Zahra Namvar; Shahriyar Bazzazpour

doi:10.18502/japh.v5i3.5388

Masoumeh Rahmatinia
Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpey
Abbas Shahsavani
Mostafa Hadei
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari
Alireza Raeisi
Vajeh Hasanzade
Alireza Zali
Maryam Yarahmadi
Majid Kermani
Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh
Zahra Namvar
Shahriyar Bazzazpour

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/japh.v5i3.5388

Keywords: COVID-19; Air quality; Coronavirus; Traffic plan; Tehran

Abstract

Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease 2019, namely COVID-19, has been known as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). To prevent of COVID-19 spread, most countries including Iran have implemented many preventive measures. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementation (Phase-01)/non- implementation (Phase-02) of the traffic plan on confirmed cases, suspected cases, and mortality cases by COVID-19 as well as on air quality in Tehran.

Materials and methods: Daily data of confirmed COVID-19 cases, suspected COVID-19 cases, mortality COVID-19 cases, air pollutants concentration and meteorological variables were obtained from 26 February, 2020 to 5August, 2020 in Tehran megacity and data were compared during the period’s implementation /non-implementation of traffic plan in Tehran.

Results: Our results showed that the non-implementation of traffic plan has been effective in reducing the number of daily confirmed cases, suspected cases and mortality by COVID-19. Also, the average concentration of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 , O3 , SO2 and CO have reduced significantly during nonimplementation traffic plan phase.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there is a significant association between non-implementation traffic plan and reduce risk of COVID-19 infection.