COVID-19 Pandemic in the summer

The warmth and humidity of the summer months may not offer substantial relief from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a modeling study in Science. Researchers used data on two coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 to predict the course of the pandemic over the coming months. They found that “while variations in weather may be important for endemic infections, during the pandemic stage of an emerging pathogen the climate drives only modest changes to pandemic size.” Instead, the population’s level of immunity has a much greater influence on an outbreak’s trajectory. The researchers conclude that “both tropical and temperate locations should prepare for severe outbreaks of [COVID-19] and that summertime temperatures will not effectively limit the spread” of the infection.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/05/15/science.abc2535