Memorial Day is ushering in summer and hopes that warm, humid weather will take a bite out of coronavirus transmission, though scientists warn it won’t …
Memorial Day is ushering in summer and hopes that warm, humid weather will take a bite out of coronavirus transmission, though scientists warn it won’t be a panacea as Americans flock to beaches, public pools and parks.
Other viruses exhibit seasonal patterns in which transmission slows in warmer, wetter months before returning in the fall and winter. Droplets that carry the disease tend to drop to the ground faster in the humidity instead of remaining airborne.
The White House also showcased evidence the new virus fares poorly on surfaces in direct sunlight and hot weather.
Still, the pathogen has been able to spread in warm environments from Brazil to Singapore, prompting experts to preach caution as beach-combers migrate to shorelines and BBQ parties beckon. One of the glaring problems is that since this coronavirus is new to humans, no one has natural immunity to it.
“We project that warmer or more humid climates will not slow the virus at the early stage of the pandemic,” Rachel Baker, a postdoctoral research associate in the Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI), said in a release on a university study published May 18. “We do see some influence of climate on the size and timing of the pandemic, but, in general, because there’s so much susceptibility in the population, the virus will spread quickly no matter the climate conditions.”
The pandemic is entering a critical phase, with states beginning to reopen as “social distancing” flattens the curve of transmission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised swimming areas to encourage social distancing, such as arranging decks so chairs are at least six feet apart, or introducing pool lanes and using signs and tape to maintain spacing.
