Researchers at Princeton University in America completed a recent study published by the scientific journal Science on the impact of high summer temperatures on the spread of the Corona epidemic.
"We see that warmer and humid climates will not slow down the virus in the early stages of the pandemic," said lead author Richel Baker, a researcher at Princeton, in a statement released by the university.
The climate, especially humidity, plays a role in the spread of other corona viruses and influenza, but this factor is expected to be limited compared to another much more important factor with the current epidemic, which is the collective immunity that is weak in relation to the emerging corona virus.
The researchers believe that the number of people who were not infected with the virus is still very high to ensure a rapid spread of it.
"The virus will spread quickly, regardless of weather conditions," the researcher added.
In the absence of prevention or vaccine measures, the virus will gradually infect a larger part of the population, according to the study authors, indicating that after that it may become seasonal, like other viruses of the same family.
"Other human coronaviruses, such as the common cold, are highly dependent on seasonal factors and peak in the winter, outside the tropics," said university professor Brian Aynfell.
In the event that the new Corona virus is seasonal, as is likely, we can expect it to become a winter virus after infecting many members of society. "
The team developed several models of the emerging coronavirus, based on the monitoring of influenza viruses and known coronaviruses that cause colds by simulating what might happen in several regions of the world with different temperatures and humidity levels.
The researchers concluded that "the results indicate that the tropical and temperate regions must prepare for the widespread epidemic and that the summer heat will not contain the spread of infections."