Delhi air pollution adding to the rise in COVID cases in the capital

New Delhi: The COVID-19 cases have surged in the national capital Delhi primarily due to the rise in pollution post the festivities. The Chairperson of the Centre for Chest Surgery at Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, Arvind Kumar, said that the rise in the number of COVID cases is a "direct effect of air pollution." The city recorded 7,340 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.

The "deadly cocktail" of pollution and COVID-19 will be disastrous to the people as well as the healthcare sector of Delhi. The ICUs in the hospitals of Delhi are almost full, said Kumar. He has emphasized the need to reduce pollution along with the need to wear masks, practice hand hygiene, and maintain social distance.

Kumar said that till a few weeks ago, the COVID cases in Delhi were declining. However, with festivities around the cases of coronavirus have only increased in the city. This is a "direct effect of air pollution," said Kumar.

Speaking on why COVID-19 cases rise specifically at this point in time, Kumar said that there are many reasons behind it. One of them is that the pollution is too bad for one's lungs. Pollution can cause inflammation of the lining of the windpipe and lungs. This further reduces the immunity and hence, making it more vulnerable to infections. An inflamed lung is more prone to infection or catching a virus than a healthy lung.

Furthermore, it has been earlier proved that people who have heart disease, lung problems, or hypertension have a higher chance of mortality if they contract the deadly coronavirus. It means higher the pollution, the people would have their lungs affected, which will further lead to mortality.

Kumar has urged the people to wear a mask, maintain social distance and hand hygiene. Wearing a mask will not only protect them from the virus, but also from the pollution around them.

Various health experts and healthcare professionals have earlier said that coronavirus cases might increase in the coming winter months. The infections, which are caused by respiratory virus including SARS and influenza show seasonal variation as the cases increases in the winters. This is because the viruses survive longer in a dry and cold climate. Another reason for the increase in infections in the winters is the lack of sunshine. It decreases our Vitamin D and thereby decreases our immunity to fight the viruses.

However, the effect of COVID in the winter is yet to be observed by the researchers.

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