Strict lockdown strategies to stop the spread of COVID-19 have caused a decrease in environmental noise levels and introduced new noise conditions in dwellings. The present study has investigated the impact of the forced lockdown in Turkey on noise annoyances due to traffic, neighbors, and personal dwellings, as well as the concern of being heard by neighbors, and overall dwelling satisfaction in an online questionnaire. The stress and anxiety levels of respondents were also investigated. The survey obtained 1053 respondents. Additionally, environmental noise levels were measured over 24-h at two locations and compared with results before the pandemic. The results clearly exhibit that environmental noise levels and annoyance due to the noise levels dropped significantly. The annoyance drop was larger in previously noisier environments than previously tranquil locations. Noise annoyance due to neighbor noise did not change significantly; however, noise annoyance due to one's own dwelling increased. The results also confirmed an overall increase in dwelling satisfactions indicating a correlation between dwelling satisfaction and lower environmental noise levels. Although the results confirmed that noise annoyance was positively correlated with stress and anxiety levels, the change of annoyance between before and during lockdown was shown to be independent from the stress and anxiety level.

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In March 2020, strict lock-down measures were imposed in response to COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions greatly affected our lives together with our environment. While indoor activities increased, streets got tranquil. On Noise Awareness Day 2020, Turkish Acoustical Society started an online survey on noise annoyance in dwellings. 1053 People responded questions on perceived noisiness, dwelling satisfaction, and noise annoyance for two time periods: (1) before and (2) during the pandemic. Stress and anxiety at the time was also evaluated. The results showed that traffic noise annoyance decreased while annoyance due to own-dwelling noises increased. Although being higher than both, neighbor noise annoyance did not change significantly. People who perceived their environment as “noisy” were more satisfied with their dwelling during COVID-19, and those who perceived as “quiet” were less satisfied. Noise sensitivity and annoyance were positively correlated with stress and anxiety while individual changes in annoyance (Aduring–Abefore) were independent. Finally, environmental noise levels (1) before COVID-19, (2) during total lock-down and (3) partial lock-down were measured at two locations. During total lock-down noise levels dropped 7.8dB near a main road while it increased 5 dB near greenery due to human activities. During partial lock-down the levels dropped 2.4 dB and 2.1 dB respectively.

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