According to U.S. government researchers, the deadly coronavirus dies quickly when exposed to heat, sunlight, and humidity. They determined that the virus survives best indoor conditions, and loses power in high temperatures and humidity.
The acting head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, William Bryan said that the virus loses its potency when temperatures rise, especially when it is exposed to sunlight.
“The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight,” he told a White House news briefing.
The findings could encourage hopes that the pandemic will behave just like other respiratory diseases like influenza in warm weather.
President Donald Trump said the observations should be approached cautiously, but also reported validation that the coronavirus would fade in the summer. “I once mentioned that maybe it does go away with heat and light. And people didn’t like that statement that much,” he said at the briefing.
Fifteen U.S. states are planning to restart their economies and ease trade regulations designed to slow the spread of the pandemic. The government of South Carolina is allowing some businesses to reopen this week, but according to health authorities, it could be a dangerous step, as it could lead to more deaths.
On the other hand, Trump’s administration declared that states should wait until they see a steady drop in the infection rates for two weeks. Even though some states were showing signs of improvement, Trump said that Americans might need to maintain social distancing until early summer.
In several states, Trump has encouraged protests against social-distancing. Yet he criticized Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a fellow Republican, for moving so quickly. “I want the people in Georgia to be safe, and I don’t want this thing to flare up because you’re deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines,” he said.
According to a Reuters tally, there are more than 870,000 cases and over 49,500 have died of COVID-19 in the United States.
According to Bryan, the virus maintained half its strength for an hour in a dark room, but when exposed to sunlight, it lost half its strength in less than 90 seconds. Researchers also found that isopropyl alcohol was a more effective disinfectant than bleach, he said.
Cover image source- www.deccanherald.com