Will Warm Weather Slow the Virus?
Look at a world map of where the coronavirus has spread (World Map: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ) and the answer seems obvious though these cases may be travel related and not linked to seasonality. The World Health Organization states that from the evidence so far, COVID-19 can be transmitted in all areas, including those with hot and humid climates.
Though the flu peaks in February along with RSV and the common cold, experts don’t know if the coronavirus will behave in the same way. The most recent article on this topic that I could find is from the New York Times, published on March 22, 2020. Experts state in this article that “Wherever the temperatures were colder, the number of the cases started increasing quickly,” In the US southern states like AZ, FL and TX are seeing slower growth of the outbreak. This is supported by two other studies (one from Spain and Finland, the other from China). The virus thrives in dry conditions between 28.3 and 49 degrees F. HOWEVER (and this is a big however for scientists like myself – none of these studies has been peer reviewed.) Even if warm temperatures make the virus less effective, it will still be transmitted. It might be tougher for the virus to survive in the air or on surfaces for long periods, but it will still be contagious for hours. It’s going to be 4-6 weeks before we have a clear picture of this situation. SO much is unknown, and even if the virus slows during warmer months it could return with ferocity in the fall.
Other Misconceptions About What Will Help Prevent Infection:
Gargling with warm water
No evidence, though it may provide comfort
Drinking hot water frequently to flush the virus into the stomach
No evidence: infections often begin after we’ve been exposed to thousands or millions of viral particles, so sweeping a few down the oesophagus is unlikely to have much of an impact.
Blasting hot air
No evidence – you might kill a few, but there are millions. A steaming bowl of hot soup will provide comfort and may kill a few more, but aiming a hair dryer at your face isn’t going to help.
Ingesting colloidal silver
No evidence
Getting some sun
No evidence
Taking your vitamins (garlic, pepper, elderberry, mint, vitamin C)
No evidence. This one will get me the most kickback, I know it, but I stand by it. My statement: If you take supplements you’ll get better in 7 days, if you don’t, it will take a week.
Help with understanding
You can help people understand that though one person may have personal experience with one of these tactics working for them, that is called “anecdotal” evidence and does not apply to the general population as a whole. Scientific evidence is based upon large data sets, not just one person’s experience. Remind folks that once the virus is in your blood stream, or in your respiratory system, these strategies will not work. There’s a video telling folks to raise the temperature of their nostrils to 130 degrees. That sounds great, except, how can you raise the temperature of your blood to 130 degrees? Boiling your blood will most certainly kill you much more quickly than coronavirus.
What we know
Quote
“Sound preparation base on scientific evidence is what is needed at this time.” - UNICEF
Coronavirus is also known as COVID-19. It is a virus which is a collection of proteins and lipids, so antibiotics won’t help treat it. There is no known cure. It passes person to person by physical contact and it can live on hard surfaces and in the cough of a sick person’s respiratory droplets. Anyone can get it and carry it, but people over 65 are more likely to die from it, as are folks in high risk categories. New studies suggest that though it is mainly transmitted as respiratory droplets, it can go airborne depending on heat and humidity, which means if someone carrying the virus sneezes in the Walmart, you might breathe in those particles up to two hours later. It has a long latency period (it may incubate for up to 14 days), so you might spread it to lots of people before you even know you have it. We don’t have enough resources to deal with everyone getting sick at the same time, so we have to slow the spread of the virus (shoot, I can’t even find a thermometer).
- Wash your hands often
- Stay home
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home
- Practice social distancing
- Stay home
- Cover your mouth when you cough
- Stay home
- Disinfect surfaces
- Did I mention you should stay home?
There is a spark of hope. Outbreaks in China and South Korea appear to be stabilizing, but that seems to be due to intervention by the authorities (lockdowns, travel restrictions), and not due to anything related to the virus itself.
THANK YOU
Finally – thank you to all the folks who cannot stay home. Those of you who go in to work every day to fight the good fight – I want you to know, I’m not buying or using gloves or masks because I am fully aware of how they work (and don’t work…those folks at the grocery store make me cry…) and if you know how I can send you some or donate to help get you what you need, post the link and I’ll do it.
Nurses on the frontlines, you are my heroes. Thank you.
