Sydney is facing a ‘public health emergency’

‘More than 20 medical groups, including the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, released a joint statement urging the Australian government to take urgent action to tackle the problem.
Smoke from bushfires has produced air pollution of up to 11 times the base “hazardous” level in parts of Sydney and New South Wales.
‘Bushfire smoke is particularly hazardous because of the high levels of tiny particles (PM2.5).
Meanwhile, the New South Wales state health department said it recorded a 48 percent increase in the number of people visiting hospital emergency rooms with respiratory problems in the week ending December 11 compared to the five-year average.’