Coronavirus and India advantage
While those traveling out of India and all the trade still has risk the good news is as temperatures start to rise in India due to the onset of the summer, it is likely to be relatively safer from the deadly grip of the virus. This is because Warm temperature slows down coronavirus. A report says that regular coronavirus which is one of the causes of common cold survives 30 times longer in places with temperature of 6 degree Celsius as compared to places with temperature of 20 degree Celsius and high humidity.
Research points out that human coronavirus can remain potent on inanimate surfaces at room temperature for up to 9 days but if the temperature is more than 30 degree Celsius then the duration of its potency remains shorter. Similar results were produced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) that stated that the SARS coronavirus stayed stable at 4 degree Celsius, at room temperature and at 37 degree Celsius for at least 2 hours but were converted to non-infectious after 90, 60 and 30 minutes of exposure at 56, 67 and 75 degree Celsius respectively.
Moreover, NUS states that person-to-person infection spreads faster during colder weather as more time is spent indoors and in closer contact to other people. The report further states that the novel coronavirus is similar to other respiratory viruses and can be spread by saliva droplets, phlegm by cough or sneeze etc. "That happens when a person touches a contaminated surface and then touches his or her nose, mouth or eyes, inadvertently transmitting the virus. In fact, studies have shown that these respiratory droplets spread farther when the air is cold and dry," states the report. Additionally, intensive use of air conditioning could also lend a lifeline to the virus.
In light of these findings, India is set to be in a safer zone as temperatures have already started rising. Highest temperature a month from now will increase to around 36 degree Celsius in Kochi. Delhi will witness highest temperature of 30 degree Celsius, while Ahmedabad in Gujarat will record highest temperature of 34 degree Celsius, Hyderabad 38 degree Celsius, Kolkata 35 degree Celsius, Bengaluru 34 degree Celsius and Chennai 34 degree Celsius on March 14, according to AccuWeather. Attached Projected weather graph Of March. more