The COVID-19 Pandemic: New Knowledge on the Impact of Air Quality on the Spread of Coronavirus Infection in Cities

Suspended substances in the air form clusters with coronavirus particles and spread up to 10 m from the source of infection. The importance of taking air pollution into account when simulating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is due to the similarity in the health impacts made by the coronavirus and the respirable fraction of suspended solids. In Europe, up to 6.6% of deaths and in China up to 11% of deaths from COVID-19 are due to ambient air pollution. In epidemiological models, this factor must be considered along with other reasons for the development of coronavirus infection. In Russian cities, increased air pollution can be one of the risk factors for the development of an epidemic.