A new study reveals sunlight can kill coronavirus in 34 minutes. Scientists believe keeping people indoors may be doing more harm than helping. spending time in the hot sun may actually help reduce the infection rate.
The study claims summer sunlight at high noon time can kill as much as 90 percent of the coronavirus.
According to the study that appeared in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology , the virus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19 was inactivated during summer in many highly populated cities of the world. The study also revealed coronavirus could remain contagious outdoors during winter.
The authors of the study; Scientists Jose-Luis Sagripanti and David Lytle, one worked for US Army and the other for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) believe lockdowns may have done more harm to people for not being exposed to sunlight.
The researchers in their study analysed how well the UV sunlight can effectively destroy the virus in just 34 minutes. It can wipe out 90% of the virus living on the surface.
What others think?
While many scientists claim the amount of UV light needed to kill the virus is unsafe for human life. They also suggest summer heat may slow the spread but nit stop the pandemic.
The world Health Organisation (WHO) also warned sunlight will not prevent the coronavirus.
WHO states “You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19. To protect yourself, make sure you clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. ”
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Sunlight can kill coronavirus ?
“The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 1 metre from others and frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.”
WHO warns against – Sunlight can kill coronavirus
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WHO has also advised not to use UV lamps to disinfect hands or other areas of your skin.
Scientists Jose-Luis Sagripanti and David Lytle however insist sun will kill the and virus and keep us safe.
Other scientists however believe the sum will clean up the virus that is laying around but when it comes out of the mouth or nose of the already infected person, it will just hand briefly in the air and will go into someone else’s mouth.
Texas A&M University Texarkana biologist Dr. Ben Neuman whose research is specifically on coronavirus, states UV rays can kill the naked virus, but it is less effective when it is in droplets of mucus from an infected person’s nose or mouth, reports Daily Mail.
According to new study estimates the virus could stay infectious for a day or more between December and March. But in Summer, 90% or more of the virus would be inactive within just 11 – 34 minutes of midday sunlight.
A study from US National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center also suggested coronavirus floating in air decays by 90% in just 6 minutes of Summer sunlight and 19 minutes in the winter sunlight.
Harward University study showed that flu can survive on a surface at 6C in dry condition for more than 23 hours, while it dies with in a hour at 32C.
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