Air quality index (AQI) levels regularly fell below 20 during the initial lockdown phase in March and April, due to a decrease in cars on roads and factories shuttering.
Pandemic-related travel restrictions temporarily led to emission reductions and improved air quality in some areas prone to heavy smog and air pollution. For example, New Delhi, India, one of the world’s most polluted cities, saw some of the cleanest air in decades. Air quality index (AQI) levels regularly fell below 20 during the initial lockdown phase in March and April, due to a decrease in cars on roads and factories shuttering. Normally, AQI levels in Delhi reach 200 on good days, and more than 500 during high pollution months from October to December (Ellis-Peterson, H., 2020). The AQI shows changes in the amount of pollution in the air, with higher numbers indicating greater pollution and more negative health impacts.