How Shelter-In-Place Orders Affected Atlanta’s Air Pollution

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June 29th, 2020

Traffic flows in and out of downtown Atlanta in 2016. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and Gov. Brian Kemp’s shelter-in-place order earlier this year, traffic was greatly reduced. Experts tell how less traffic — and other factors – had an effect on air quality.

John Bazemore / Associated Press file

In Atlanta, it’s getting hot and traffic is coming back, which means air quality will go downhill.

Still, if it seemed like this spring the air was better while so many people were sheltering in place, that’s because it was, at least in some respects.

In March, people started staying home because of the coronavirus. In April, it became mandatory statewide. And that had a dramatic effect on traffic.

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