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The transmission of COVID-19 is less likely outdoors
© Getty
Seasonal illness
▪ Hi HIW,
Are illnesses like the flu more prevalent in winter because the bug survives better in colder temperatures? Why doesn’t this apply to COVID-19, which seems to thrive in summer?
Stephen Conn
Flu is definitely more prevalent in winter, and scientists think this could be to do with cold temperatures. Cold air is less able to carry water vapour. This causes the water to fall as rain, leaving the air drier than it is in summer. In this dry air, the flu virus is better able to live and spread. COVID-19 has proved to be almost entirely dictated by human behaviour. Many of the trends in cases have been due to when restrictions have been in place. It’s thought that COVID follows a similar trend to the flu virus, and spikes in cases during winter support this. While the weather plays some part in reducing the virus’ spread, summer means many of us spend more time outdoors, so COVID is still able to survive.