Doctors Warn Against Delhi's 'Suicidal' Half Marathon Amid Soaring COVID Cases, Air Pollution
Top doctors have warned runners against what they say is a "suicidal" half marathon in Delhi amid the rising coronavirus cases and soaring air pollution in the national capital.??
Doctors say that the runners are taking a major health risk by competing in Sunday's New Delhi half-marathon.?With New Delhi recording more than 5,00,000 coronavirus cases, and air quality in the world's most polluted capital hovering between 'unhealthy' and 'hazardous', doctors said the athletes should think twice as it would be "suicidal"?
What the doctors said
"It will be suicidal for runners to run the race this time. We have such high levels of pollution, we have the risk of coronavirus," Arvind Kumar, founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation, told?AFP.??
"With the presence of this twin threat if people are still running despite knowing everything, well, I have no words to express my anguish."
"Whether you are an international elite runner or you are a small boy from a village, the damaging potential of a damaging agent remains the same," said the doctor.
Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences's (AIIMS) Randeep Guleria said that "in an ideal situation" the race should not be run.
"Because of high levels of air pollution, exercising outside in this weather sometimes can lead to aggravation of underlying lung problems. Even if you are an elite runner, the air pollution would still affect your lungs," he added.
However, organisers say the "highest level of safety-standards, with bio-secure zones" have been laid on for the race starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
49 elite runners to partake
Women's marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei from Kenya and Ethiopia's two-time men's winner Andamlak Belihu are among the 49 elite athletes running the 21 km race.?
Normally thousands of amateurs would also take part, but because of the coronavirus they have been told to run their chosen route between Wednesday and Sunday and chart their time on an app.??
Delhi reeling under crisis
Delhi has been hit by a winter pollution crisis each year for the past decade when crop-stubble burning from nearby states, cold temperatures and car and industrial pollution produce a toxic mix.
This year, the Indian capital is also a major concern in the battle against the coronavirus. India is the world's second worst-hit country behind the United States, with about 9.3 million cases.
The city is considering imposing a night-time curfew because of the rising number of cases, according to media reports.
The foot-race held in Delhi is conducted annually and begins from JNU stadium. Each year, the marathon that is held between October-November fields world champions and world record holders from across the globe. Established in 2005, it is both an elite runner and mass participation event. The 2009 event attracted around 30,000 runners who competed in one of the four races.
