Data from China Show Higher Air Pollution Could Lead to Increased Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Leading to More COVID-19.

Dirty air can spread the virus, increasing susceptibility to infection, weakening the immune system and making it harder to fight back. In addition, the smallest particles of the virus in the air can prolong its life and increase the likelihood of infection..

Scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have assessed the impact of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission in China in new study published on medRxiv preprint server.

The analysis used data on the spread of COVID-19 and data on air quality from January 1 to April 1, 2020 in China.

The researchers found that increased air pollution increases the transmission of the virus. A 14.3% air quality index (AQI) increase increases transmission by 2.8 percentage points 2-13 days after exposure. This result persisted even after periods of isolation and data from Wuhan, where the outbreak occurred.

https: // www. medikforum. ru /.

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