Delhi has been shrouded in a cloud of smog for days. Fine particulate matter readings have skyrocketed, while the pandemic continues to rage across the metropolis.
"You must declare a public health emergency because we are suffocating here in Delhi." The alarm comes from Licypriya Kangujam, a nine-year-old Indian climate activist well known in her country and founder of the Children's Movement (The child movement). She has issued a request, conveyed via social media, addressed directly to the governor of the capital of the vast Asian nation.
For days the metropolis has been enveloped in extremely high levels of pollution, particularly with regard to PM10 fine particulate matter. Its level has reached 591 micrograms per cubic metre, against the maximum threshold of 25 set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect public health.
The situation is particularly serious above all during this period of pandemic. The AFP news agency reports the view of Davinder Kundra, a doctor working at a clinic in Delhi, according to whom "numerous studies around the world have established a link between air pollution and the increase in coronavirus cases and deaths." In Italy, an analysis by a group of researchers from the universities of Bologna, Trieste and Naples, all members of the Società italiana di medicina ambientale (Sima), sparked debate. It demonstrated the presence of traces of coronavirus RNA on the analysed particles, but has not yet been able to establish whether the viral load remains active — that is, whether people can be infected through fine particulate matter.
What is known for certain is that the health situation in Delhi is becoming increasingly alarming. In recent days a peak of 7,000 new infections was recorded, but there are fears the figure could reach 12,000 in the near future. At national level, moreover, India has recorded nearly 8.6 million cases, for a total of more than 127,000 deaths.
In an attempt to curb air pollution — which in any case increases the flow of patients into hospitals due to the onset of various respiratory conditions — the authorities of the Indian capital have imposed a number of measures. These include a ban on setting off fireworks during the festivities. This Saturday, 14 November, is in fact the date of the great Hindu festival of Diwali (the Festival of Lights).
In addition, a procedure is being drawn up to require private clinics to take on a greater number of Covid-19 patients. Meanwhile, cannons that spray water have been deployed across the city, with the aim of attempting to "clean" the air of pollutants.
