The new coronavirus, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, weakens in a hot and humid atmosphere as well as in the sun's rays, according to a study by the United States government presented Thursday at the White House. "Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that sunlight appears to be killing the virus, both on surfaces and in the air," said senior Homeland Security official Bill Bryan. “We have seen a similar effect on both temperature and humidity. The rise in temperature or humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus, " added the official, presenting the preliminary results of this study.
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Scientists have wondered since its appearance on the possibility that the new coronavirus might weaken with increasing temperatures, that is to say with the arrival of summer in the northern hemisphere. “We have identified some of the weak links in the chain of virus transmission. We have identified that heat and humidity are weak elements in this chain. We have identified that sunlight and UV rays are a weakness in this chain, ” insisted Bill Bryan.
US Vice President Mike Pence called the presentation "encouraging . " Donald Trump, for his part, remained cautious but noted that the United States could be in a better position with the arrival of summer. "If the heat is good, if the sunlight is good, I think it's a very good thing," he said.