Outdoor Pollution

During lockdowns there has been a reduction of air pollution.  Is there any evidence that the reduction of air pollution has contributed to a reduction in ER visits?  There are some studies that are correlating air pollution with increased COVID cases.  Is that because pollution may weaken the immune system?

Follow this link to some of the resesarch connecting air pollution and COVID: http://www.rampasthma.org/archives/15947#impacts. 

Regarding a reduction in air pollution during the pandemic, it's true that reduced traffic had led to some air pollution decreases. However, pollution from the freight transportation system (ports, trucks, rails) has not decreased and those sources of pollution are disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color.

Excellent point Anne.  Important reminder that air pollution is experienced locally even if the reporting of general trends paints with a broader brush.  Our focus on addressing air pollution really needs to target environmental remediation of pollution that is most impactful to low-income communities and communities of color.