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Circumstances During the spring of 2020, March and April benefitted from good weather conditions and tree pollens were very abundant.

At the same period, because of the rapid expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, strict confinement and sanitary measures were enforced resulting in the cessation of all industrial and commercial activities, in the closure of the airport, car traffic reduction and partial closure of the border.

Methods:

Index scores for allergic symptoms and anti-allergic medications were compiled from the Symptoms Report Notebooks of 42 patients with tree pollen allergy. 

They were compared with scores recorded yearly by patients since 2016. Daily pollen counts (MeteoSuisse) and the 'Clinical pollen index' (RNSA network) from 2016 to 2020, sale index of anti-allergic medications and pollution measures from the OCEV, République et Canton De Genève were used for comparison and analysis.

Results:

During the months of April and April 2020, there was an impressive reduction of the air pollution never observed before. 

Despite high pollen counts, analysis of patients' data showed a neat reduction of symptoms scores both for frequency and severity, as well as in medication use. Global drop in sales of anti-allergic medications also corroborated these observations. 

Assertion It is generally admitted that in pollen allergy, a clear correlation exist between high clinical symptoms scores and high pollen counts. 

The divergence observed during the spring of 2020 bring stronger evidence that air pollution is an important co-factor in triggering pollen allergic reactions.