CLEVELAND, Ohio -- While bad air quality could mean major implications for the coronavirus, you can help boost air quality at home during the pandemic, to protect yourself. Small steps like buying a new air filter or breaking out the vacuum cleaner more frequently can make a difference.

The nationwide study showed that a unit increase of atmospheric particulate matter led to a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. That poses a problem in areas like San Francisco, New York and Cleveland, where at times air quality can match industrial, highly-polluted China.

Cleveland recently ranked as one of the worst cities for pollution caused ozone and fine particulates in recent studies released by the American Lung Association, meaning the implications of this study could be severe.

Air pollution can boost levels of inflammation in the lungs, making patients more vulnerable to other infections.

Cuyahoga County has the highest coronavirus case numbers in the state at 960. Franklin and Hamilton counties are second and third and are home to other major Ohio cities Columbus and Cincinnati.

I think now were starting to appreciate that in areas of lower socio-economic class, in areas where people live in tighter quarters, there is there are higher levels of air pollution but also higher rates of COVID-19 and now we know from this paper, higher rates of deaths from the virus," Loren Wold, a professor in Ohio State Universitys department of Physiology and Cell Biology.

Wold said that researchers are looking to map air pollution levels with levels of virus infection.

We do know that Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati there is a a track of pollutants that tend to run along the river systems. Mostly that is due to the way the air moves within the state. We know that the level is only higher in the large cities in Ohio.

Ohios stay-at-home order, which reduces all non-essential businesses to basic operations, shut down some of the businesses that were boosting air pollutant levels. Wold said theres been a slight drop in pollution, but that some people are still driving, which heavily contributes.

Even though officials now recommend that Ohioans wear masks in public, a typical mask isnt as effective as filtering out particulates in the air. The pores in the fabric are too large, Wold said. Specialized masks are available with a prescription for those with respiratory problems.

Inflammation and lung damage are also linked to smoking, which could be another factor in who is more vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19. Indoor air humidity could also be important, because dry air could affect the viruss ability to travel and bodys defenses against the virus.

Social distancing and hygiene are still the primary ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Below are some recommendations for improving air quality in your home, based on Wolds recommendations and advice from Harvard and the EPA:

-- if you have a forced-air heating system, be sure to change the filter

-- buy a HEPA filter, which can filter out high particulates through forcing air through a fine mesh

-- keep the house clean, vacuuming and dusting and cleaning surfaces more regularly to remove dust, particulates and other lung irritants, as well as prevent the spread of coronavirus

-- check air quality online each day. If pollution is too high, consider exercising at off hours or staying inside to prevent irritation or trouble breathing

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How do I improve air quality in my home to protect against the coronavirus? - cleveland.com