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COVID-19 lockdowns silenced urban noise. Now it's coming back.
May 27, 2020
As lockdowns ease, the return of noise will be comforting to many people, some studies even suggest a moderate amount of ambient noise enhances performance.
But noise pollution can seriously undermine health and quality of life generally. There is an opportunity to better manage noise pollution to help cities thrive post-COVID-19.
As the coronavirus kept more people indoors, many felt an important part of their lives had vanished: noise.
For city dwellers around the world, social distancing and stay-at-home orders quelled the daily bustle that usually surrounds them – and amplified (sometimes unpleasantly ) the sounds of nature. Decibel levels in New Delhi diminished , people in Paris suddenly discovered the sound of local river birds , London tourist spots like the Millennium Bridge were virtually silenced , and subway musicians in New York City were replaced by a Spotify playlist .
The stillness has not always been welcomed. For many people, the new absence of sound was an eerie reminder of the unsettling circumstances, signifying troubled economies and the difficulty faced by many people trying to earn a living. It also amplified the blare of sirens as ambulance crews scrambled to save the lives of the infected. A growing urban din may therefore bring a comforting return to normalcy.
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