A new study shows wildfire smoke or other air pollution may contribute to higher COVID-19 infection rates.
COVID-19 infections spiked during a spate of bad-air days caused by wildfire smoke in 2020, and an observational study by the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology found there was a correlation between particulate matter and positivity rates.
The study's authors say it shows that pollution makes people more susceptible to infection.
A reminder: people most affected by wildfire smoke are people with heart conditions, lung disease, children, elderly and people with respiratory conditions. Here are some tips to help:
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- Keep your home as smoke free as possible by keeping windows, doors closed, and running the air conditioner
- If you have to head outside, use N95 masks or respirators if you’re in the sensitive groups
- Change the air filters in your home more frequently.
