On March 16, a pro-Kremlin online media outlet News Front Georgia released an article headlined “When a temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the spread of coronavirus will be minimized.” The article notes citing the study by a team from China’s Sun Yat-sen University that the novel coronavirus spreads most successfully from 5 to 8.72 degrees Celsius and reduces to zero at 30°C. Based on this information, News Front supposes that in summer, when temperature reaches 30°C, the spread of coronavirus will be minimized.
This information is not based on any scientific evidence. Many countries with hot climates have reported the cases of coronavirus. So, there is no evidence that warmer weather above 30°C will stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Temperature does not affect the spread of novel coronavirus
Coronavirus has now spread to every continent except Antarctica. The COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Australia, Singapore and African countries, where temperature exceeds 30°C.
- It is not yet confirmed whether the summer will stop the spread of coronavirus
The study by the team from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, the capital of south China’s Guangdong province, claims that coronavirus appears to spread fastest at 8.72 degrees Celsius, but it is ‘a false hope’ to think Covid-19 will just disappear like the flu.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that there has been no evidence to suggest that temperature changes will affect the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in all areas, including areas with hot and humid weather and there has been no evidence to suggest that warmer weather will affect its spread.
