Toronto’s smoky conditions have not yet improved enough to reopen outdoor facilities, including pools, city officials say.
As of Friday morning, Canada’s largest city remains under an air quality warning, orange alert, for the third consecutive day.
Global air quality tracker IQAir currently ranks the city’s air quality as the fourth worst in the world today among major urban centres.
“Smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario continues to result in very poor air quality along with reduced visibility this morning,” Environment Canada said in its weather advisory.
“There may be temporary improvement this afternoon however very poor air quality will return to all regions this evening and may persist into the weekend.”
Experts are continuing to urge people to limit the amount of time they spend outdoors.
“Reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events,” the advisory read.
“You may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.”
For those who must be outside, Environment Canada notes that a “well-constructed, well-fitting, and properly worn respirator type mask,” such as an N95 mask, should be warn to reduce exposure to harmful fine particles in the air.
The City of Toronto noted that pool closures and changes to outdoor recreation programs will continue until the orange alert is lifted.
