Table of contents:
- COVID-19 and the factors that make this virus disappear
- 1,024,298
- 831,330
- 28,855
- 1. The environment reduces cases of COVID-19
- 2. Human behavior
- 3. Immune system
- 4. Less the host which is risky
During COVID-19, there were rumors that this contagious disease will subside when the weather warms up, aka entering summer. This news refers to the spread of SARS disease in 2003 which decreased when the weather was warm. Is it true that summer is one of the factors for the gradually disappearing COVID-19?
COVID-19 and the factors that make this virus disappear
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has now caused more than 129,000 cases worldwide and claimed more than 8,900 people, began during winter.
Many people think that SARS-CoV-2 infection is similar to the flu, that it will decrease when the weather is warmer. In fact, that's not necessarily the case.
Experts are still finding out the level of danger from COVID-19 and how it will be in the dry season and summer. Therefore, hoping that the weather that will become a factor for COVID-19 will disappear by itself is not very helpful.
According to Marc Lipsitch, DPhil, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, there are several factors that can reduce the rate of transmission of this disease. So, what are the things that can reduce the spread of viral infections to make them completely disappear from the world?
1,024,298
Confirmed831,330
Recovered28,855
DeathDistribution Map1. The environment reduces cases of COVID-19
One of the factors that might cause the COVID-19 virus to decrease until it disappears is the environment.
As winter progresses, the air will be much cooler and the humidity level will drop dramatically. If you look at the case of influenza, several studies have shown that the flu virus is more "happy" in places with low humidity levels, aka dry.
A number of these studies turned out to give hope to some people and thought that the SARS-CoV-2 infection would disappear when the weather was warmer. In fact, it doesn't work like that.
This is because influenza is similar to COVID-19, which both attacks the respiratory system. However, the mechanism of action of the spread between the two is different and there are no specific studies that explain the relationship between the flu virus and SARS-CoV-2 and climate.
Despite this research from Cold Spring Laboratory explains the continuing spread of the virus and the rapid growth of cases everywhere. Starting from the famous cold and dry provinces of China, such as Jilin, to tropical countries like Singapore.
In addition, experts are of the opinion that weather alone, such as an increase in temperature and humidity during spring and summer, cannot be used as a benchmark.
There are many other factors that can make the transmission of the COVID-19 virus decrease and disappear, such as government intervention. Therefore, further research is still needed to determine the effects of humidity and air temperature on the spread of COVID-19.
2. Human behavior
Apart from the environment, human behavior is also considered to be a factor that can reduce the number of cases of the COVID-19 pandemic until it disappears.
You see, when it enters winter, most people spend more time indoors with ventilation that is rarely opened and rarely outdoors.
In fact, many of them choose to move rarely and don't sweat, which has a negative impact on their own health.
One thing to remember about COVID-19 is that until now there has not been found a vaccine to prevent and a drug to treat this disease.
Therefore, human behavior is the key to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and how you can help reduce transmission. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to wash your hands regularly with soap and running water.
This habit needs to be done before and after eating and then after touching surfaces that are often touched by people, such as door handles.
In addition, there are several other strategies concerning human behavior to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- social distancing, limiting physical contact by being at home more often
- avoid touching the face too often
- replace handshakes by banging your elbows, legs, or bending over
- do not travel abroad, especially infected countries, unless it is urgent
Many people may underestimate the above strategies and underestimate the transmission of COVID-19. They may not show serious symptoms, but passing them on to people who are at risk of developing complications, such as the elderly, is a fatal mistake.
Therefore, human behavior is an important factor in making the COVID-19 virus completely disappear.
3. Immune system
Paying attention to personal hygiene is indeed important, but maintaining health is no less serious. The immune system of healthy people and infected patients is also an important factor so that the COVID-19 virus is completely lost.
When this virus has just started, namely during winter, the immune system of people living in countries that have that season can be worse than in summer. One of the most likely causes is that rarely exposure to sunlight actually reduces the immune response in the body.
It is no secret that sun exposure is one of the best sources of vitamin D and reduces the risk of respiratory infections. So that, when winter rarely brings sun, it turns out to have a big effect on your body.
Therefore, meeting nutritional and vitamin needs is also important so that the body does not get COVID-19 and has the potential to spread it to other people.
4. Less the host which is risky
Regardless of the season factor, the transmission of the COVID-19 virus can also increase and decrease due to the large number of people who are susceptible to this disease.
Each one case can transmit the virus more than one case. After the first case has been successfully treated, the rate of spread may be reduced because the frequency of contact does not occur.
However, there are several factors that make COVID-19 not completely disappear, namely infected people who are not detected. This can happen from time to time without the influence of climate and weather.
Therefore, social distancing was put in place to see if a person unrelated to the first patient could develop symptoms related to COVID-19. That way, it will be easier to trace people who come into contact with patients who are not aware they are infected.
The four factors above may be a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 until it is completely gone. Moreover, many people are not aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is a disease that needs to be taken seriously because the transmission rate is quite high.
Even so, at least there is hope to avoid this virus by maintaining personal health and hygiene.