Warm weather has been linked to a slowdown in the spread of COVID-19.
The document was prepared by a team of researchers and economists from Beijing schools of Tsinghua University and Beihan University using data from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention associated with 4,711 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Scientists used sophisticated statistical analysis and modeling, trend growth curves, weather stations and contact tracing among patients who had COVID-19 – they came to this conclusion:
'High temperatures and high relative humidity significantly reduce transmission of COVID-19, respectively, even after accounting for population density and GDP per capita in cities. […]
This result is consistent with the fact that high temperatures and high humidity significantly reduce influenza transmission. This indicates that the onset of the summer and rainy season in the northern hemisphere can effectively reduce the transmission of COVID-19. '
This is an analysis of the data and by no means a definitive conclusion. Next: we are not talking about the death of the coronavirus in warm weather (according to the information we have: this is not the case). Or the heat will stop it spreading (won't stop it).
But it looks like the heat will slow the spread.
While this may sound like a little consolation, it should. You will be hearing a lot about 'flattening the curve' over the next few weeks.
Warm weather will slow the spread here in the Northern Hemisphere for the next few months. In the southern hemisphere, the coming cold weather means that transmission of the virus will be easier.
We hope that those places least affected by COVID-19 in the past few months have heeded the lessons and warnings that those of us on the other side of the globe are facing and preparing for.
