Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Biophysical Environment

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue I, January 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Biophysical Environment

Ekpo, C. G., Is’haq, A. B.
University of Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the biophysical environment. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The entire Nigerians made up the population of the study. One thousand five hundred (1,500) respondents were selected across the six geopolitical zones using the purposive sampling procedure. Data of the study were collected via a questionnaire titled: Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Biophysical Environment Assessment Scale (ICPBEAS). The instrument was designed in a close-ended four-point Likert scale format. Data obtained for the study were analyzed using the descriptive statistics of frequency counts, mean (x) and simple percentage. The study revealed that COVID-19 pandemic has both positive and negative impacts on the environment. However, the negative impacts are more than the positive impacts. The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse impacts on the biophysical, cultural, economic, political and social aspects of Nigeria’s environment. Based on the findings of the study, the following were recommended among others: Nigerians, irrespective of class and social status, should be more conscious of how they use the biophysical environment knowing that degradation, pollution, and desecration of the environment can affect the health and wellbeing of all citizens; and government should exhibit a higher degree of sincerity in implementation of sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural policies aimed at alleviating hunger and poverty in the country.

Keywords: Environment, COVID-19, Pandemic

I. INTRODUCTION

Globally, the year 2020 was ushered in with great hope and prospects. Unfortunately, the year cannot be forgotten in a hurry because of the global plague, nicknamed COVID-19 pandemic, which irrespective of location, race, technological advancement, and nationality affected the biophysical, sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural aspects of the environment. COVID-19 pandemic is traceable to Wuhan in the Hubei province of China where the first case of the pandemic was reported in the later part of 2019 (Obioma, Reuben & Elekwachi, 2020). The acronym “COVID-19” was coined in February, 2020 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses and the World Health Organisation from the words corona, virus, and disease, while the number 19 represents the year that it emerged (Elflein, 2020; Ebonyi & Abok, 2020). It is comprised of group of viruses that can be transmitted between animals and people, causing illnesses that may range from the common cold to more severe respiratory syndromes

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