Exposure to Air Pollution Increases COVID-19 Deaths by 15%

Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of dying from COVID-19 and, for the first time, a study has estimated the proportion of deaths from the coronavirus that could be attributed to the exacerbating effects of air pollution for every country in the world.

Salem, Virginia Roanoke County Coal Train Bridge Collapse Map

Officials from Roanoke County reacted in a press release Saturday night to the train derailment incident. 

Officials said a Norfolk Southern Corp. bridge collapsed around 11:15 p.m. on Friday night in Roanoke County near Barley Drive. While a coal-carrying train was crossing the Roanoke River, the bridge collapsed, and a dozen of the 22 derailed railcars fell into the river, causing around 2000 tons of coal to fall. 

According to the press release, the Virginia Department of Emergency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality responded to the incident and organized the evacuation of the railcars and coal from the river.

Officials said that DEQ works with local, state, and federal agencies as well as Norfolk Southern to collect samples to assess if water quality has been compromised. 

Salem is now removing water from groundwater wells out of an abundance of caution and not the Roanoke River until it is possible to test water samples of the river, according to officials.