Air quality concerns cause delays and cancellations to sporting events, flights

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - From your flight to your favorite sports team, the poor air quality is causing delays and cancellations.

The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Philles announced each of their games will be postponed.

Despite a cloud of haze in the Hartford sky, the Yard Goats still took the field Wednesday night.

Fans still showed up, though many were masked up.

“Just talking to you right now, you feel it you get short-winded in the lungs,” said David Dwyer, Yard Goats fan.

Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson explained why his team played ball, saying the players, managers, and umpires were all on board.

“There were other teams nearby that had to cancel, but they had significantly higher AQI than we had, fortunately, and that’s why we were able to go on and everyone was able to be on the same page,” Abramson said.

There have also been cancellations and delays at airlines throughout the day.

The CAA says Bradley International is not seeing any impacts, but flights to and from NYC are being slowed.

All flights bound for LaGuardia International Airport have been paused, and departures have been slowed as well.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on twitter that one million N-95 masks will be available at all state facilities.

Flights are also being slowed in Newark International in New Jersey.

If you plan on doing any flying within the next 24 hours, all airlines are asking you to check their status as soon as possible.

Closer to home, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker announced that the city is opening 200 Orange Street as an area people can use as a safe place to be indoors.

“It’s just impacting a lot of people’s health and I have a sister who has asthma and she’s not doing well with it. I was walking around my neighborhood and can definitely feel it in my throat,” said Larissa Topalis, Ledyard.

It will be open from 6:00 p.m. tonight until 7:00 p.m. tomorrow morning.

Dr. David Hill of the American Lung Association says limiting your time outside or wearing a mask are ways to minimize risk.

“Particularly wood smoke like this is more toxic, it’s like smoking cigarettes but you can’t avoid doing it,” Dr. Hill said. “Cloth masks won’t really be effective enough, you want to wear N95 or better.”

While the haze may cause minor respiratory problems for most, here is when you should go to the hospital.

“If you’re having extreme shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness or symptoms that are really unusual. That’s when you want to seek urgent care or go to an emergency department,” Dr. Hill said.

Dr. Hill says young children, pregnant women, and people who have heart disease or any lung disease are the groups with the highest risk.

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