With the mercury levels gradually increasing, medical officials claim that there is no established relation between the variations in temperature and the spread of Coronavirus.
Officials also state that the disease COVID-19 which is currently present across the globe is affecting humans in varying local climates. The exact temperature to deactivate the virus is still unknown.
“The hypothesis that rising temperatures will kill the virus has failed. In some states across India where the temperature is being recorded at above 40 degree Celsius, COVID-19 is still prevalent. There are many viruses which are temperature sensitive like influenza. But probably Coronavirus is not so. Although the number of cases in India is less compared to the other countries but the temperature theory is still not valid,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) CCL Hospital, Dr Rajkumar.
Dr Rajkumar further stated that with Coronavirus spreading people should keep themselves hydrated during the summer months. “If an infected person gets dehydrated then the chances of complications increase. The virus spreads through human contact so social distancing and hand hygiene needs to be maintained. Till the time a vaccine is not developed for this virus, social distancing and isolation are the only medications. For all messages on social media suggesting the intake of malaria medicines, lemon juice and the likes, it has not been proven that any such thing can reduce the chances of contracting the infection.”
The frequency of almost all infectious diseases reduces in the summer season but the same cannot be stated for COVID-19.
“It has been observed that Coronavirus has been equally effective in cold as well as torrid countries. The infectivity rate has been constant so it cannot be established that it will reduce in summers. As compared to winter or rainy season, the incidents of all communicable diseases generally reduce in summers but the same cannot be stamped for COVID-19. A reduction in the number of cases can be expected but it cannot be said that the gross incidents of infection is low in summers,” said Dr SS Harsh, CMO, Central Government Health Services. He further emphasised that viruses are very sensitive particles outside the human body and can be easily destroyed with soap water and disinfectants like alcohol. The guidelines set by the government need to be strictly adhered to.