Heavy smoke from the fires has forced many testing sites to close across the coast, while poor air quality warnings are pushing more people indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.
Wildfire evacuations also complicate efforts to maintain social distancing, health experts told the Journal. For example, Oregon shelters are housing thousands of people sleeping on cots in close proximity without masks. In other cases, people are opting to mix households and stay with family or friends.
The wildfires can also make it easier for the virus to spread from a physiological standpoint, according to Peter Chin-Hong, MD, an infectious disease physician at the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center. Smoke can irritate COVID-19 patients’ respiratory systems, causing them to cough more often, which releases the virus into the air. Healthy individuals may also be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 since irritation in the lining of the throat can make it “easier for the virus to land,” Dr. Chin-Hong told the Journal.
Read the full article here.
More articles on public health:
Public health expert says new CDC data shows need for hospital-acquired COVID-19 reporting
Whistleblower nurse claims Georgia ICE facility ignores COVID-19 safety precautions, denies care
Maine ‘superspreader’ wedding linked to 7 COVID-19 deaths
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
