Coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 46,000 Brits and infected at least a further 308,000. The country is still in the midst of the epidemic, but Britons can’t resist getting out and enjoying the rare warm weather. However, with the UK seeing a heatwave this weekend, what does this mean for the virus?
Does hot weather kill coronavirus?
Whether or not the heat affects coronavirus is still something of a debate.
Usual viruses peak in the winter months, when the cold weather and people staying in confined spaces creating the perfect breeding ground for the spread of disease.
However, as the world has already seen, COVID-19 does not usually take a break to sunbathe.
When the virus first came to prominence in February and March, warmer countries such as Iran and Australia – which was in the midst of its summer – saw rapid spreads of the virus.
WebMD said: “Every virus and pandemic is different, and there are a number of things that influence them, even in hot and humid weather.
“With COVID-19, there is simply not enough evidence to know if there will be a significant slowdown in infections as temperatures rise.
“That’s why experts recommend that you don’t assume that summer months will be safer for the transfer of COVID-19 and that you to continue to take appropriate steps to protect yourself and those around you.”
The World Health Organization has also warned that scorching heat will not halt the spread of COVID-19.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said: “We don’t have direct data for this virus, nor do we have direct data for a temperature-based cutoff for inactivation at this point.
“The necessary temperature would also be based on the materials of the surface, the environment, etc.”
Put simply, do not bank on the current heatwave in the UK to stop the spread.