GH002-07
COVID-19 mortality and environmental factors during wet and dry seasons in West and Southern AFrica

Monday, 7 December 2020: 10:48
Virtual
Greg Jenkins1, Sandra M Freire2, Evelyne N'datchoh Toure3, Demba Niang4, Mamadou simina Drame4, Joao Baptista Huvi5, Toluwalope Ogunro6 and Moctar Camara7, (1)Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, University Park, PA, United States, (2)University of Cabo Verde, Chemistry, Science and Technology, Praia, Cape Verde, (3)UNIVERSITY FELIX HOUPHOUET BOIGNY (UFHB-SSMT), PHYSIC, ABIDJAN, Côte D'ivoire, (4)Laboratory of Atmospheric-Ocean Physics Simeon Fongang, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal, (5)University of Katyavala Bwila, Benguela, Angola, (6)Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria, (7)University of Assane Seck Ziguinchor, Laboratoire d'Océanographie, des Sciences de l'Environnement et du Climat (LOSEC), Ziguinchor, Senegal
Abstract:
SubSahara Africa has been the last continent to experience a significant number of cases in the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Several studies have suggested that air pollution is related to COVID-19 mortality; poor air quality has been linked to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disease, which are considered co-morbidities linked to COVID-19 death. We examine potential connections between country-wide COVID-19 mortality and environmental conditions in Senegal, Cabo Verde, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and Angola. We analyze PM2.5 concentrations from cost-effective in situ measurements, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and fire count from space-borne platforms during the dry season when dust and biomass burning aerosols are present in Southern Africa. In addition, we examine the COVID-19 mortality during the wet season using space-borne rain measurements to determine potential linkages which might occur as a result of time spent indoors and concurrent cases of flu, waterborne and vector-borne diseases in West Africa. Results are presented from March through December of 2020.
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