Satellite images show how smog pollution has dropped in northern Italy after weeks of coronavirus restrictions
- The air pollution in the European country was documented over the course of three weeks, on the dates February 14, February 24, March 4 and March 8
- The levels of nitrogen dioxide appear to have decreased in the photos from the Sentinel 5 satellite of Europe’s Copernicus Programme
- There have been 827 deaths from 12,462 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the European country – the most anywhere outside of mainland China
- The Italian government has told people to leave the country unless necessary
- World Health Organization classified coronavirus as a pandemic earlier this week
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Smog has dropped in northern Italy after almost a month of coronavirus restrictions, according to new satellite images.
The levels of nitrogen dioxide – highlighted in dark orange – appear to have decreased in the photos from the Sentinel 5 satellite of Europe’s Copernicus Programme, run by the European Commission and the European Space Agency.
The progress of the air pollution in the European country was documented over the course of three weeks, on the dates February 14, February 24, March 4 and March 8.
Smog has dropped in northern Italy over a three-week period – February 14 (top left), February 24 (top right), March 4 (bottom left) and March 8 (bottom right) – following a month of coronavirus restrictions. The orange shading shows a heavy concentration of air pollution
The photos were uploaded on Twitter by Santiago Gassò – a researcher at the University of Washington and NASA – on Wednesday, the same day World Health Organization classified coronavirus as a pandemic.
Following his findings, he penned on his social media account: ‘In one month, there is a clear decrease of NO2 levels (a pollution marker) in northern #Italy according to the satellite sensor.’ [sic]
Earlier this week, Italy implemented a nationwide lockdown in a desperate bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
There have been 827 deaths from 12,462 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the European country – the most anywhere outside of mainland China.
The photos were uploaded on Twitter by Santiago Gassò – a researcher at the University of Washington – on Wednesday, the same day WHO classified coronavirus as a pandemic
US President Donald Trump has taken extreme measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 as he’s imposed a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the country – excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland – starting at midnight on Friday.
At least 125,000 patients have been infected and 4,000 have died worldwide since the outbreak began last December.
The virus has been spreading between humans in four continents since February 28, the WHO has admitted.
The killer coronavirus rapidly spreading around the world can survive in the air for three hours, scientists have found.
US government researchers, who worked with other experts, also found the deadly infection can live on surfaces for up to three days.
Tests showed the virus can survive on copper for four hours, cardboard for an entire day and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel.
The European country has the highest coronavirus death rate in the world