The Italian region of Lombardy seems to be hit much harder than any other European region. Could the geografic location play a significant role in the spreading of the virus?The Lombardy is surrounded by many lakes causing a high relative humidity up to the saturation of the air (fog). Is it possible that the virus can survive longer in the atmosphere due to this fact?
It is indeed a very high relative humidity, today at 88% https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v2. In this paper some first investigations were done on the viability of the virus in aerosol and some type of surfaces: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v2. Next steps will be further investigations assessing the role of temperature and humidity in detail.
The research is still in embryonic stage;
[2003.05003] High Temperature and High Humidity Reduce ...
arxiv.org › q-bio
5 days ago - High Temperature and High Humidity Reduce the Transmission of COVID-19. ... One degree Celsius increase in temperature and one percent increase in relative humidity lower R by 0.0266 and 0.0106, respectively
the chance of the coronavirus remaining in hot and high humid is very iow
Well,
Air pollution means containing one or several pollutants in influential quantities and for a period of time that may have an impact on the health of humans, animals, plants, or the biosphere in which a person lives. The air is considered polluted if there is a change in its composition for any reason, and if some impurities, gases or other pathogens like viruses are mixed with it in a quantity that may harm life.
In the concept of air pollution, viruses are classified as pollutants or pathogens as suspended particles with a diameter of 0.1-10 microns and remain a long period suspended in the air supported by aerosols. It can reach the lungs and settle there. accordingly, the humidity support in transportation, where the humidity or aerosols acts as Virus Survival Boat.
Regards
There is a relationship between relative humidity (RH) and the survival of the virus. Most viruses survive best at low RH (90%). But, the relationship between the survival of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) and relative humidity needs to be elucidated.
You can check
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-humidity-may-affect-covid-19-outcome
We are looking into another variable, as T, RH and UV are insufficient to predict flu-like or Covid-19 seasonality. First results are very encouraging: Article Pollen likely seasonal factor in inhibiting flu-like epidemi...
Yes, I think so. The proof is the decrease in the number of infections and deaths due to the virus in drier and less humid countries such as Libya and Egypt.
Relative humidity affects the decomposition of COVID-19 in the air. The higher the humidity, the more virus remains alive for a longer period. The drier the weather, the less virus remains in the
I agree that high humidity, with no or almost zero wind would provide a suspension mechanism for covid. Major outbreaks which appear to be accelerated are linked with cities and geographic locations with specific valley fog or high humidity conditions. Northern Italy, Iran high covid regions, Wuhan with 21 days of 27 days Dec 2019 with fog, Melbourne basin, recent Georgia USA and the ambient conditions inside meat processing facilities, mines in Brazil appear to be all linked. Critically the covid surge in New York during March 2020 also aligns with the high humidity 88% or higher of the fog which was present.
It is reported that too dry air can increase the survival time of corona virus and low humidity acts as a conduit for viruses to disperse and travel around. There are also reports on greater survival of the virus at low RH (20%) and high RH (80%) than at moderate RH (50%).