Enlightenment from the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Environmental Factors in Future Public Health Emergency Response

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is challenging the current public health emergency response systems (PHERSs) of many countries. Although environmental factors, such as those influencing the survival of viruses and their transmission between species including humans, play important roles in PHERSs, little attention has been given to these factors. This study describes and elucidates the roles of environmental factors in future PHERSs. To improve countries' capability to respond to public health emergencies associated with viral infections such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of environmental factors should be considered before, during, and after the responses to such emergencies. More specifically, to prevent pandemic outbreaks, we should strengthen environmental and wildlife protection, conduct detailed viral surveillance in animals and hotspots, and improve early-warning systems. During the pandemic, we must study the impacts of environmental factors on viral behaviors, develop control measures to minimize secondary environmental risks, and conduct timely assessments of viral risks and secondary environmental effects with a view to reducing the impacts of the pandemic on human health and on ecosystems. After the pandemic, we should further strengthen surveillance for viruses and the prevention of viral spread, maintain control measures for minimizing secondary environmental risks, develop our capability to scientifically predict pandemics and resurgences, and prepare for the next unexpected resurgence. Meanwhile, we should restore the normal life and production of the public based on the "One Health" concept, that views global human and environmental health as inextricably linked. Our recommendations are essential for improving nations' capability to respond to global public health emergencies.

Keywords: Environmental factors; Prevention and control; Public health emergency; Public health emergency response system; Viral infections.

Fig. 1

An illustration of the roles of environmental factors in future PHERSs. Before a pandemic outbreak, environmental and wildlife protection should be strengthened, detailed viral surveillance should be conducted in animals and hotspots, and early-warning systems should be improved to minimize the outbreak of a pandemic. During a pandemic, the impacts of environmental factors on viral behaviors should be studied; also, control measures to minimize secondary environmental risks and timely assessments of viral risks and secondary environmental effects should be undertaken in order to reduce the impacts of the pandemic on human health and ecosystems. After a pandemic, surveillance for viruses and prevention of viral spread should be strengthened, control measures for minimizing secondary environmental risks should be maintained, and scientific prediction capability should be developed in order to respond to the next unexpected resurgence in a timely manner. Meanwhile, the normal life and production of the public should be sustainably restored (sources of illustrations: † reproduced from Ref. with permission of WHO; ‡ the 17 goals are from Ref. [4]). T: temperature; RH: relative humidity; UV: ultra violet; RT-PCR: reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Fig. 2

Possible virus transmission routes in the environment.

Fig. 3

QMRA: a tool for combining quantitative scientific data related to environmentally relevant disease pathways to support environmental safety management.