A third of Americans are affected by smoke from Canada, New York theaters closed | Abroad

The EPA’s warning certainly applies to people who have health problems. They are advised to stay indoors and wear a mask when going out.

Hundreds of forest fires are raging in the Canadian province of Quebec in particular. Not only Canada but also the United States are affected by the smoke. Images show how the sky above New York turns orange. The situation is particularly dangerous for people who have asthma, COPD or heart problems. People who are pregnant should also be careful, just like the elderly and children.

The EPA has an air quality index based warning system. There is also a system with color codes linked to it. Code orange applies to part of the US, including Chicago and Atlanta. That means a risk for people with fragile health. According to the EPA, it is possible that this is partly caused by local conditions there.

In New York, the largest city in the country, the second highest or highest warning level applies: purple or maroon. The air there is exceptionally unhealthy for everyone. If necessary, people should stay indoors, the authorities advise. The White Sox v. Yankees baseball game has been postponed and air traffic has also been disrupted. The city will start providing face masks for free on Thursday.

Many theaters in the city have been forced to close their doors, reports The New York Times. Popular shows like Hamilton in Camelot are canceled because the actors are too bothered by the smoke and therefore cannot sing. Actress Jodie Comer had to stop halfway through the performance on Tuesday evening because she was bothered by the smoke. The performance of Shakespeare in the Park, a popular annual open-air show, has also been postponed for the time being.