Ranniger, Gwen. “Coronavirus Explained.” EHN, 15 May 2020, www.ehn.org/coronavirus-climate-change-environmental-2645973386.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1. Accessed 31 Aug. 2020.
This article covers the necessary information concerning the health risks and higher risk of catching the Coronavirus due to certain environmental factors currently in play. The coronaviruses consist of many viruses that affect both animals and humans. SARS-CoV-2 is the leading strain that causes Covid-19 though, which currently has no cure. With the rapidly changing world concerning climate change and other factors, these aspects can greatly increase the risk and chance of contracting Covid. Whilst climate change has no direct impact on the spread of Covid, the rapidly heating atmosphere causes species to try and escape the heat. This “escape” results in ecosystems colliding with others and allowing for the possibility of a pathogen to spread quicker.
Overall this article has shed light upon the many environmental factors that are currently indirectly impacting the mortality rate and spread of the Covid-19. With environments being forced to collide with other environments I can most certainly see how a pathogen can be easily spread through different species. Another key point that this article covered was about the local forest fires and their poor contribution to the air quality. A study was conducted that showed people who breathed dirtier air were twice as likely to die from Covid.
The world is getting smaller, and as you put it, ecosystems are colliding. And with that, it makes sense pathogens are able to travel too. I wonder if warmer temperatures has a direct impact on the speed of viral travel? Interesting times for sure… does the particulate matter from the fires in the air right now give viruses one more vehicles to travel on to disperse? Is that what the article was saying? Or is it because the lungs are already compromised from breathing bad air, and then virus is more destructive?
Honestly, I viewed it as both. When looking at the viruses, the collision of ecosystems causes these destructive diseases to spread at a far faster rate. Adding to this, when looking at it in another light, our lungs are also already compromised to an extent because of the poor air, which allows the virus to be more destructive.