The Telegraph: "Higher Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Winter"

Droplet Particles Shrink as Air Dries, Staying Longer in the Air
Increased Indoor Activity in Winter Also a Factor
"Deadly Risk When Combined with Flu"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A study has found that for every 1% drop in humidity, cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) increase by 7-8%. Accordingly, there are also predictions that the possibility of a COVID-19 pandemic will increase as the dry winter season approaches.

On the 18th (local time), the British daily The Telegraph reported this, citing a report published in the academic journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases."

According to the report, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a correlation between relative humidity and COVID-19 transmission was confirmed in the Greater Sydney area of Australia.

It was found that COVID-19 infection cases increased by 7-8% for every 1% drop in relative humidity.

Michael Ward, a professor at the University of Sydney and the author of the report, explained that the increased transmissibility in the dry winter environment is because the droplets we expel when sneezing or coughing become smaller as humidity decreases.

Conversely, when humidity is high, droplets become larger and heavier, causing them to fall to the ground more quickly.

Professor Ward said, "Smaller droplets can remain in the air longer and have a higher chance of exposing others."

Earlier, a research report published in June by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) also supports this fact.

According to the report, a study of 50 cities found that significant community transmission of COVID-19 is distributed along specific latitudes (30 to 50 degrees north) with similar average temperatures (5 to 11 degrees Celsius) and low absolute humidity regions.

The report concluded that these results "are consistent with the patterns of seasonal respiratory viruses."

The fact that people spend more time indoors during winter also raises concerns about virus resurgence.

Richard Neher, a professor at the University of Basel, warned, "Over the next six months, virus control in the Northern Hemisphere will become more difficult and could rapidly exceed control limits. We must respond quickly to enter winter with infections minimized."

The increased spread of other viruses such as influenza and the common cold during winter is also considered a risk factor. It remains unknown how the COVID-19 virus will interact when it meets other seasonal respiratory viruses.

Fran?ois Balloux, a professor at University College London (UCL), said, "Although it is a hypothesis, a concerning scenario is that co-infection with influenza and COVID-19 viruses could lead to severe outcomes. If the COVID-19 pandemic coincides with the flu season, healthcare capacity could also face significant challenges."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.