Experts suggest that wildfires may play a vital role in the number of people who contract severe COVID-19 and how many die of the disease.

In a new study, researchers have noted that a rise in fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke in 2020 contributed to a spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon and Washington. Francesca Dominici, study co-author, said that fine particulate matter air pollution can serve as an additional vehicle facilitating faster spread of the virus.

Investigators assessed 92 counties in California, Oregon, and Washington that were affected by wildfire last year. Based on satellite images for the fires and data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in the three states, it was noted that in the majority of the counties, a strong evidence emerged that the more smoke and soot there was, the more cases and deaths from COVID-19 were reported. If PM 2.5 levels continued to be higher for 28 consecutive days, cases increased by around 12% and deaths rose by over 8%. The study is published in the journal Science Advances... (CNN, August 13, 2021)