Dust from the Sahara Desert is expected to reach Texas Tuesday and it may cause residents to experience some symptoms that may be mistaken for COVID-19.
“It can feel flu-ish, you can have increased coughing, you can have chest congestion and those can be confused with signs of COVID,” Dr. Joseph Diaz, an allergy specialist in San Antonio told CBS Austin.
Diaz says the Saharan dust does not put people at a higher risk to contract COVID-19 but it could make those who have tested positive feel even worse.
Because of the impact it could have on the respiratory system, doctors have recommended staying indoors to avoid inhaling the dust.