Key points from article :
Improvement in air quality during Covid-19 lockdown led to 11,000 fewer deaths in Europe.
Sharp falls in road traffic, industrial emissions resulted in 1.3m fewer days of work absence.
Also 6,000 fewer children having asthma, 1,900 avoided ER visits, 600 fewer preterm births.
Response has offered a glimpse of the cleaner, healthier environment.
That is possible if the world shifts away from polluting fossil fuel industries.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide have fallen by 40%, compared with the same period last year.
Tiny particulate matter, PM2.5, is down 10%, meaning people without Covid-19 can breathe easier.
These forms of pollution are normally responsible for ~470,000 deaths in Europe/year.
The highest number of avoided pollution deaths in Germany (2,083), followed by the UK (1,752).
Then followed by Italy (1,490), France (1,230) and Spain (1,083).
The fall in air pollution had reduced pressure on health services at an important time.
Research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
