Communities exposed to higher levels of air pollution experience higher rates of infection, particularly in areas with high population density.

Shahla Farzan reports on new research from a dozen U.S. cities that reveals that "coronavirus spreads faster in areas with worse air pollution and higher population density," putting communities of color at higher risk for transmission.
"Roughly one-third the size of a red blood cell, microscopic particles known as PM 2.5 penetrate deep into the lungs and cause a wide variety of illnesses. The dust-like pollution also reshapes the cells in our bodies, causing them to produce proteins that act as doorways. That allows the coronavirus to invade the cells," Farzan writes. This means that poor air quality can worsen COVID-19 symptoms, according to Rajan Chakrabarty, a Washington University aerosol scientist. Meanwhile, Farzan notes that "Black people and Latinos across the U.S. are exposed to higher-than- average levels of air pollution from nearly every source, including power plants, construction and agriculture. They are also two to three times as likely to die of COVID-19 than white people." Even when controlling for other factors, air pollution and population density were shown to have the biggest impact on transmission rates.
As we noted early in the pandemic, COVID-19 highlighted the damaging impacts of decades of disenfranchisement and disinvestment on communities of color and low-income households, who now face a growing set of interrelated challenges that include rising housing costs, inadequate infrastructure, and health hazards compounded by the uncertainty of the pandemic.
FULL STORY: Air pollution in St. Louis helps fuel coronavirus spread, especially in communities of color

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service