Covid-19 Appalling Effects On The Environment

Crisis

Covid-19 has conquered the year 2020, throughout this year worldwide countries have been tackling the virus with hopes for a potential vaccine to be available early next year. Covid-19 so far has infected 14.4 million people and caused the death of 600,000 people. This is devastating as Covid-19 has killed more individuals compared to its ancestor SARS which appeared from 2002 to 2004.

Covid-19 has caused chaos to almost every country in the world however many might believe with strong restrictions and lockdowns, Covid-19 might have benefitted the environment. In one way it has, as severe lockdowns in countries has caused the cancellation of daily flights and traffic on roads that has drastically reduce air pollution. However, on the other hand, Covid-19 has silenced important discussions about the environment. This silence has created an opportunity for some individuals.

In Brazil, illegal loggers have sieved this opportunity to start clearing off the Amazon rainforest. Satellite images demonstrate that 64% of the land in April 2020 has been cleared compared to the same month last year. Alongside illegal loggers, miners and ranchers have started work on the Amazon rainforest unfortunately, President Jair Bolsonaro turns a blind eye towards Amazon and its indigenous people.

It is not a good time for the Amazon, on top of the Covid-19, Amazon still suffers from last year’s fires. Last year Amazon faced fires that have burnt almost most vegetation and reduced the air quality. Experts suggest that individuals living in these areas are more likely to get Covid-19 as last years fire smoke could aggregate patients who contract the virus leading to hospitalisation.