Confirmed COVID-19 cases (UPDATED DAILY by South China Morning Post)
Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), official names have been announced for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (previously known as “2019 novel coronavirus”) and the disease it causes. [mfn] https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it [/mfn]
The official names are:
Disease
coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)
Virus
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2)
Incubation period
An incubation period is the time between being exposed to a germ and having symptoms of the illness. Current estimates suggest that symptoms of COVID-19 usually appear around five days on average, but the incubation period may be as short as two days to as long as 14 days. [mfn] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/as-coronavirus-spreads-many-questions-and-some-answers-2020022719004#q2 [/mfn]
COVID-19 and its possible sensitivity to hot temperatures
The “virus is highly sensitive to high temperature”, which could prevent it from spreading in warmer countries, which appeared to be true in colder climates. Also, several national governments and health authorities are banking on the coronavirus losing some of its potency as the weather warms up, as is generally the case with similar viruses that cause the common cold and influenza.
As temperatures are warming up, the stability of the virus could decrease. And if the weather helps us reduce transmissibility and environmental stability of the virus, then maybe we can break the chain of transmission.
Furthermore, the virus that causes Covid-19 may truly have a temperature sweet spot at which it spreads fastest, however, experts say people should avoid falling into the trap of thinking it will react to seasonal changes in exactly the same way as other pathogens, like those that cause the common cold or influenza.
It has been cited that the COVID-19 virus, like all other strains of the coronavirus family, is not likely do well in hot weather or tropical heat. [mfn] https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/will-uaes-long-hot-summer-kill-coronavirus-1.70118173 [/mfn] While very little information is known about this strain, going by the other viruses that caused influenza such as SARS and MERS, the incidence dies down during summers. It has been seen that the peak of the influenza season is during the winters so many are hoping that the COVID-19 strain will also follow the same pattern.
In addition, other experts from Infectious Diseases Research at the American University of Beirut, said it was possible that warmer, more humid weather would make the coronavirus less stable and thus less transmissible, as was the case with other viral pathogens.
The study, by a team from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, the capital of south China’s Guangdong province, sought to determine how the spread of the new coronavirus might be affected by changes in season and temperature. [mfn] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.22.20025791v1 [/mfn]
According to this study, there is no evidence supporting that temperature changes COVID-19 transmission. Data were collected from a number of confirmed cases of all cities and regions affected by COVID-19 in the world from January 20 to February 4, 2020, and calculated the daily means of the average, minimum and maximum temperatures in January. [mfn] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.22.20025791v1 [/mfn]
It has been concluded on this study that, to certain extent, temperature could cause a significant change in COVID-19 transmission, and there might be a ‘best temperature’ for its viral transmission, which may partly explain why it first spread out in Wuhan.
Therefore, the study suggested that countries and regions with a lower temperature in the world should adopt the strictest control measures to prevent further transmission and reversal.
Conclusion
All being said, let’s not bank on summer killing the virus off. It is ‘a false hope’ to assume that COVID-19 will just disappear like the flu as there is no hard evidence.
Even if considering the weather alone, such as an increase of temperature and humidity as the spring and summer months arrive, it will not necessarily lead to declines in case counts without the implementation of extensive public health interventions.
And even if this were the case, the benefit would be greatest in areas that had yet to see widespread community transmission of COVID-19. The WHO urged people not to assume the epidemic would automatically subside in the summer.
Consequently, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can burn you. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.
Therefore, the best and still the most important way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with soap and water. Through this, you will be able to eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
Your posts are so helpful, I love them. Before I couldn’t leave comments due some disqus issues, hopefully now you will know I am a regular visitor of your blog. Thank you so much for this insightful post.
Nilakshi – merakimusings
Hello there Nilakshi! You would always hear from me too from now on! Thank you for your appreciation, hope this article helps to bring you awareness with regards of our current situation. Take care!
This really concerns me. The whole world is suffering. God knows when it’ll stop. There are some precautions but very tough to maintain at least for those who use public transport.
That’s true! It is indeed terrifying. Who knows what will happen in the future. Hope it subsides and stop spreading soon. Stay safe always.