Coronavirus: Weather impacts on the virus; could summer kill it?

WASHINGTON D.C. — Sunlight, high temperatures and humidity are detrimental to COVID-19 in saliva droplets on surfaces and in the air, according to emerging research.

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Bill Bryan, Department of Homeland Security under secretary for science, said the virus dies at a much higher rate if it is on a surface and exposed to temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees, with 20% humidity.

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Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini said the Miami Valley sees an average high of 70 degrees by May 9. By the end of the month our average hits 75 degrees.

Anthony Fauci, M.D., the top U.S. infectious disease expert, has said there is precedent with other infections like influenza that when the virus gets warmer it goes down in its ability to spread, but no one should assume that people are going to be rescued by a change in the weather.

Bryan added that the virus dies even more quickly in aerosol form when exposed to the same heat and humidity levels.

Researchers have identified that heat and humidity are weak links in the chain of the virus, Bryan said, noting it would be irresponsible to say that summer will kill the virus.

President Donald Trump has said the findings are a suggestion at this point.

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