Research indicates that the current pandemic of COVID-19 benefits from the cold and dry climate, so it may ease with the arrival of summer, but will not disappear because of this, so it is necessary to continue to take social prevention and control measures.
According to the Spanish “World News” website reported on March 24, in the latest research on the progress of COVID-19 virus and optimal spreading conditions, it is clear that most cases of COVID-19 are concentrated in temperatures between 3 and 13 degrees Celsius Area. A similar study was included in a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The study found that 5% of cases were diagnosed in countries with an average temperature above 18 degrees. This is the case in the United States, for example. Southern states (such as Arizona, Texas, and Florida) spread the virus much more slowly than northern states (such as Colorado, New York, and Washington).
Other studies have reached similar conclusions. For example, a study conducted by two researchers from Spain and Finland found that to date, 95% of confirmed cases worldwide have occurred in dry regions between minus 2 and minus 10 degrees.
Mark Lipsic, a professor of epidemiological statistics at the Harvard School of Public Health, evaluated the development of the COVID-19 epidemic and concluded that, although analysis predicts that COVID-19 infection will decline slightly in hot and humid climates, However, it cannot be judged that the propagation speed will decrease and the propagation curve will decrease.
The scientists also emphasized that between March 11 and March 19, the number of cases increased in areas with a temperature of about 18 degrees and a population of less than 10,000, all based on observational data. It is concluded that there is a strong relationship between the number of cases of COVID-19 infection and temperature and humidity, but the most important environmental factors remain unknown.
In other words, the COVID-19 virus may be affected by temperature or humidity, or both.
However, at least in the northern hemisphere, the road ahead should not be changed: isolation, social distance, or even complete closure. These measures seem to be more effective than counting on climate change to contain the virus.