A new research on coronavirus claims warm and humid weather can contain the spread — but that's not enough

• High temperature and humidity can reduce the spread of coronavirus, says a new research.
  
• It doesn't mean that the virus will die in warmer temperature rather it won’t spread as quickly as it does in winter.
  
• It is still early to predict the behaviour of coronavirus in different seasons.
  

Not many people were convinced when US President Donald Trump casually said that “heat, generally speaking, kills this kind of virus”. In fact, a lot of scientists and researchers have been saying that the novel coronavirus may not be affected by seasonal temperature variation.

However, a new research by Beihang University and Tsinghua University claims that high temperature and humidity can reduce the spread of coronavirus.


“Our finding is consistent with the evidence that high temperature and high humidity

reduce the transmission of influenza, which can be explained by two possible reasons: First, the influenza virus is more stable in cold temperature, and respiratory droplets, as containers of viruses, remain airborne longer in dry air. Second, cold and dry weather can also weaken the hosts’ immunity and make them more susceptible to the virus,” noted the research.

While this can be good news for India where temperatures are rising, it could be too early to throw caution to the wind. A theory says that the virus could stay alive through summer and make a comeback in the winter.

Moreover, weather alone can’t do the trick. Isolating and containing the virus is important to ensure that a country remains happy and healthy.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in India — a visual guide to how the Covid-19 infection is spreading in the country

As per researchers, it is still early to predict the behaviour of coronavirus across seasons. Most of the worst hit areas across the globe have similar temperatures, and researchers yet to carry out an extensive analysis.

If true though, this new theory can favour India — which witnesses one of the hottest summers in the world at an average above 30 degree Celsius.

The country reported a shocking rise in numbers infected to 126 in the last few weeks. Moreso, three people have already died due to the virus. In times such as these, like the researchers, Indians too can “hope” on the side of optimism.

See also: coronavirus: Latest News, Articles on coronavirus | Business Insider India