Covid cases in Reno rose after a heavy layer of wildfire smoke settled over the city last year - Daily Mail

COVID-19 cases rose by nearly 18% last year in Reno, Nevada, after a heavy layer of wildfire smoke settled over the city, according to findings from the Desert Research Institute.

'Our results showed a substantial increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate in Reno during a time when we were affected by heavy wildfire smoke from California wildfires,' said Daniel Kiser, a co-lead author of the study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. .

'This is important to be aware of as we are already confronting heavy wildfire smoke...with COVID-19 cases again rising in Nevada and other parts of the western U.S.' .

Smoke from the blazes, like the Pinehaven Fire, pictured above, were found to be linked to the rise of COVID-19 in Reno.

Washoe County's 450,000 residents, many of whom live in Reno, experienced those particles for 43 days, the team said

“We had a unique situation here in Reno last year where we were exposed to wildfire smoke more often than many other areas, including the Bay Area,” said Dr

They concluded that the wildfire particles were responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases in the area. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has its own webpage about wildfire smoke and COVID-19 that that provides tips on how to prepare for wildfire season, including identifying high-efficiency air filters and maintaining a supply of N95 respirators which filter out particulates