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Cone Health expert explains why you should not panic about going outside after Air Quality Warning

The smoke is coming from wildfires almost a 1,000 miles away in Canada. Health experts stress the importance of taking the warning seriously.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Cone Health pulmonologist stresses that people need to take the Air Quality warning seriously.

Doctor Nikita Desai says anyone may start feeling symptoms due to the air quality.

Yet, she says no one needs to panic about going outside.

"Data about air quality exposure is really over the years. I worry about long-term lung health when that's sustained over months and years," Desai shared. 

Sarah Coffey, a Forsyth County air quality monitor said there are three things people can do.

  • People with breathing conditions should consider wearing masks outside Wednesday. 
  • Everyone needs to take it easy outside and avoid heavy exercise.
  • NO BURNING - a burn ban is in place until air quality improves.

Where's the smoke coming from? 

The smoke is coming from wildfires in Canada, mostly. There have been several in recent weeks and months as their weather has been dry and unusually hot for this time of year. 

Right now, the most intense fires are burning in Quebec, Canada. A northeast wind is moving this smoke into the Eastern United States. It's traveling into the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and even down to us here in the Southeast.

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