Rise in temperature will not help kill virus, say experts

The experts said that the deadly COVID-19 spreads through human contact. Mass gatherings have to be avoided and people need to take precautions like washing hands, they added.

India has so far reported 43 coronavirus cases. According to reports, the number of cases of novel coronavirus worldwide has crossed 1,10,000 people in 100 countries and territories with more than 3,800 dead. AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said research states that humidity in the air generally helps the virus to grow. “But rise in the temperature does not necessarily mean this will help kill the virus,” he said, noting that tropical countries like Singapore, which has hot and humid climate, also face the threat of coronavirus. For instance, the national capital has witnessed a sudden dip in mercury with minimum temperature hovering around 11 to 12 degrees Celsius for the last three-four days.

Nutan Mundeja, who is holding the additional charge of Director General of Health Services of the Delhi government, said the relation between the rise or fall in the temperature and spread of coronavirus is yet to be proved. “The virus spreads through human contact,” she added.

Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director, Max Healthare and senior director, Institute of Internal Medicine said the COVID-19 virus is new and the scientific community does not know much about it.