Amid rapidly spreading fires in California and other western parts of the United States, many medical professionals are warning that harmful air quality from forest fire smoke could make people more susceptible to Covid-19 and exacerbate existing infections.
The chief medical officer of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Dr. “Multiple studies have shown a correlation between high levels of air pollution and higher prevalence and severity of Covid-19 cases,” said Brad Spielberg. “Some studies have also shown that exposure to lung tissue contamination can increase susceptibility to viral infections.”
Citing several studies in the US, China and Italy, Spielberg said that people with high levels of air pollution and secondhand smoke are also more likely to develop Covid-19 disease.
An infectious disease specialist and vice president of medical affairs at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Dr. Rekha Murthy said that smoking from wild fires can cause inflammation in the lungs and cause inflammation which can affect the immune system. That inflammation makes people more likely to get lung infections, including viruses that cause covid-19.
“Whenever the air or airways of the lungs become inflamed or damaged, they are more likely to catch inhaled viral particles in the lungs and cause infections.”
CNN Medical Analyst and ER Physician Dr. Lena Wayne also agreed that air pollution increases the risk of respiratory illnesses – and that those illnesses can cause more serious side effects to people with COVID-19. Wayne said there are also short-term legal concerns that smoked air will carry more coronavirus-positive people indoors, which could also potentially increase the spread of the virus.
“There’s a catch-3 because we know that living outdoors reduces the transmission rate by 18 to 19 times, but now people are being told you have to go indoors because you don’t want to breathe in the air.” There may be other questions, “Wayne said.” But you don’t want to be indoors with other people and that’s more than a Covid-19 contract … so, it’s really a C-22. “
To prevent the potential for Covid-19 during the unprecedented overlap of the acute fire season during the epidemic, Wayne recommends that all individuals who live indoors due to poor air quality should also stay away from anyone who is not close to them.
The Cedars-Sinai Hospital statue also recommends the best way to protect yourself and others against Covid-19 during the wildfire season, finding clean air spaces and minimizing potential exposure to smoke by limiting outdoor exercise.
“Physical distances can be more challenging in arranging wildlife, where people can’t spread out and spend time as easily outside,” Murthy said. “Don’t leave everyone on their guard and maintain a physical distance, wear a mask and practice hand hygiene.”
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