How Temperature and Humidity Impacts Spread of Coronavirus

We are hearing a lot of people say that the virus will die down in the summer.

But there is some new research that showing there may just be a little bit of truth to that.

About if the spread of the coronavirus will diminish come summertime.

Our meteorologist sean macaday has more on that.

Corona and humidity-bmintro-2 corona and humidity-bmintro-3 thanks raquel.

Yeah so we are hearing a lot of people quip that the virus will die down in the summer.

But there is some new research that showing there may just be a little bit of truth to that.

Corona and humidity-mpkg-1 corona and humidity-mpkg-3 intro: as the seasons change with winter springing towards summer, there is often a change in public health.

Warmer temperatures and more humid conditions are directly correlated with lower rates of infection for both the common cold and influenza.

Corona and humidity-mpkg-5 dr. anthony fauci : in general, respiratory illnesses such as influenza and the benign cold viruses tend to do very well in cold dry weather.

But does this pattern hold true for the coronavirus?

Experts urge caution when making this assumption.

Dr. anthony fauci: ... the fact is you really have to be careful because you are dealing with a unique virus whose characteristics and behaviors are unclear to us right now.

Corona and humidity-mpkg-6 while this is true, there is a new piece of research that does lend some insight.

The paper "high temperature and high humidity reduce the transmission of covid-19" was published by two chinese universities, and insinuates just as its title says.

The researchers took the infection rates in various chinese cities during the outbreak in mid january, and found that infection rates were lower in cities with warmer and more humid weather.

Now, the paper is not peer reviewed, so other scientists will have to back this up.

And this will not kill the virus completely, as covid-19 is still spreading in countries with generally warmer climates like thailand and australia.

None the less, this could mean it will be easier to limit the spread during the summer months, but it also signals a potential challenge come next winter.

Bottom line though, practices like social distancing will do significantly more to limit the spread of coronavirus then weather ever will.

Corona and humidity-bmtag-2 corona and humidity-bmtag-3 so raquel, this new piece of research isn't totally complete, but it does show that there is atleast some truth to what people are saying.

In no way though will this virus dissapear completely in the hot summer weather thanks sean.

Well be sure to check in with you if there are any new developments.

Vaping and corona-vbox-2 before our country started