New study says 'high temperature and high relative humidity significantly reduce' spread of COVID-19

Accuweather.com ^ | 3/19/2020 | Mark Puleo

[TECTopcat]

A team of researchers unveiled the results of a new study last week that looked at how temperature and humidity may affect the transmission of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

According to the researchers' findings, “High temperature and high relative humidity significantly reduce the transmission of COVID-19.”

[entropy12]

Not in Sahara desert.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Ever come to Las Vegas?

[nevermorelenore]

Even keeping your own person “warm” helps

Always cover your ears from the wind.

Wear extra garments

Stay warm, stay well

[dakine]

Dude, the heat and humidity along the Persian Gulf is disgusting...

[Balding_Eagle]

Thanks, obviously I’ve never been there.

[Leep]

About 50 threads back it said 80 degrees or higher doesn’t do anything to suppress the cornivirus...?

[JennysCool]

Facepalm. That’s why viruses skyrocket in the fall and winter, and retreat in the spring and summer. People suddenly forgot about this?

[lilypad]

Way back in 1970 when I was observing treatment of patients the doctor would tell folks with any kind of respiratory problem; sinus, colds, etc to do that. Every time I get a cold that’s what I do and it really helps.

[Osage Orange]

This is not NEW....

[Osage Orange]

Members of FR have gone around the bend....

Some I really respect too....

[Ragnar54]

Yes, Vitamin D is the real reason for the seasonal variation in flu cases. Heat and humidity have little or nothing to do with it. When the sun is higher in the sky, there is more UV than in the winter months. Young human skin unimpeded by clothing produces lots of vitamin D when exposed to summer sunshine. So, you can either wait for the summer sun and work on your skin cancer or take a vitamin D (5000 IU) supplement.

Since old skin doesn't produce as much vitamin D, old people have a different choice: take a supplement or wait for the Chinese virus to take them away.

A google search using “influenza vitamin D nih” returns a number of articles (from NIH, not a random assortment of wannabe health gurus) with evidence of vitamin D being effective against the flu virus. Some factors that reduce vitamin D from UVB exposure are:

Higher latitude (e.g., Seattle)
Lots of cloudy days (e.g. Seattle)
Staying inside (e.g. nursing home patients)

Being old (old skin doesn't produce as much vitamin D)

Taking supplementary vitamin D as a precaution is probably prudent. I take 5000-7000 IU per day, and have avoided the flu for years.

Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

Vitamin D for influenza

[Nifster]

Sure hope so. That means it’s seasonal. Will be done mid May

[Nifster]

Because there medical treatment is only shiny in the buildings not the cate. Secondly they too live like third world ERs

[jonrick46]

Thanks for the affirmation. I hope this self-treatment gives anyone with respiratory problems relief.

[steve86]

Facepalm. That’s why viruses skyrocket in the fall and winter, and retreat in the spring and summer. People suddenly forgot about this?

Not all viruses behave that way. No a priori reason to believe covid-19 does.

[PA-RIVER]

Humidity gets into the house. I have humidity gauges, and when it rains, it gets much more humid in the house. The humidity makes the air more dense, causing the virus to fall to the floor quicker, and stay on the floor. Dry air, it floats around, into the lungs. I suppose heat and sunlight help to destroy its structure.

[metmom]

“Essential? It’s our right to arm ourselves,” 37-year-old painting contractor Joshua Wolfe said. “Toilet paper is essential, right? People are going nuts for that, right?”

Not necessarily so.

Even though they are hot, they are dry.

And I'll bet they use a lot of air conditioning.

[metmom]

High temperature an humidity go hand in hand.

While it's true that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, what they are talking about her is not absolute moisture content but relative humidity.

In desert regions and inland, the RH is going to be lower than on the coast.

[married21]

This would be good news for the Tokyo Olympics. It’s plenty hot and humid at the outdoor venues in the summer.

[doorgunner69]

So those in Ecuador and Panama are sitting pretty.