Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences pulmonologist Randeep Guleria on Tuesday said that Delhi’s air has become more harmful than cigarette smoke and that the lifespan of Delhi residents has been significantly reduced due to high pollution levels.

He said that Covid severity increases in polluted areas. “Patients have more swelling in the lungs,” he said, adding, “Covid can even spread more easily as the coronavirus sticks to pollutants and doesn’t get dispersed.”