Humidity and sunlight: what weather kills coronavirus fastest

Scientists from the United States conducted a series of experiments on samples of coronavirus. Their results have already been announced by the US Department of Homeland Security Advisor on Science and Technology, writes DW.

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Direct sunlight has a strong effect on the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and contributes to its death. With such a statement, William Bryan, US Department of Homeland Security and Science Advisor, spoke at a briefing on Thursday, April 23.

So, at a temperature of 21-24 degrees Celsius and a humidity level of 80 percent, the “half-life” of a viral particle found on the surface in a drop of human saliva is 2 minutes, and for the same particle in the air and 20 percent humidity - about one and a half minutes.

On the subject: Coronavirus hardly transmits across surfaces: important evidence from new studies

Brian referred to a study by specialists from the US National Center for Biological Defense Analysis and Countermeasures (NBACC). According to scientists, at a similar temperature and in the absence of sunlight, the “half-life” of the particle on a surface is 6 hours at 80 percent humidity and 18 hours at 20 percent, and in the air (at 20 percent humidity) it is about 60 minutes .

Live: Press Briefing with Coronavirus Task Force https://t.co/dCllm9QbNQ

- The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

The results of the study have not yet been published. NBACC experts emphasize that there are still unknown links in the transmission chain of the pathogen COVID-19.

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 as of April 24 was detected in more than 2,7 million people in 210 countries and territories since its discovery in China at the end of 2019. More than 191 people died from the effects of the disease. In absolute terms, the first place in the number of infections and deaths is occupied by the United States.

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