Without any doubt, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is the top immediate threat facing the world today. However, the origin of this strain of pandemic virus still remains largely unknown to us. Fortunately, thousands of scientists, meteorologists, and health departments have been collaborating across the world to comprehend the nature of this virus in order to eliminate it. With regard to the origins of COVID-19, Earthhood, as an organization that focuses on the ecosystem, has raised some questions regarding the connection between the environment and the virus after reading and watching many excerpts and interviews. We would like to share with you some answers we have gathered that may assist your understanding of COVID-19. 

• The correlation between climate change and COVID-19 is not entirely clear. However, it is likely that since heating temperatures have forced animals to migrate from their original habitats to seek suitable places to live, many species who normally wouldn’t interact may come into contact with one another, generating opportunities for pathogens to obtain new hosts.
• Just as levels of air pollution and smoking increase risks of exposure and severity of diseases such as pneumonia and other respiratory infections, COVID-19 symptoms may be aggravated as well. Be careful!
• Unlike regular flu, scientists still don’t have a specific sense about how temperature affects the spread of COVID-19, but it appears that the virus may be more transmissible over some temperature conditions more than others.
• COVID-19 represents an alert to the human race, and we must take immediate action to prevent possible outbreak of future pandemics. The first step involves adjusting our actions and perspectives about our climate. We must drastically decrease emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels such as coal and oil. This includes a reduction of over-exploitation of natural resources by actions such as oil mining and deforestation. 
• Last but not least, wash your hands, stay home, and be safe!

Written by: Siyi Tan

Source: Staff, EHN. “Climate Change and Global Health Policy Are Largely Treated as Separate Issues by the Public and Media. Do We Need to Adjust Our Thinking?” EHN, EHN, 21 Mar. 2020, http://www.ehn.org/coronavirus-environment-2645553060.html?rebelltitem=8#rebelltitem8.