A new research from Barcelona provides evidence that COVID-19 can be a seasonal disease not different from the flu, touching one of the questions that have existed since the beginning of the pandemic. Among other things, scientists discovered that Covid-19 transmission rates were higher in regions that had low humidity and temperatures, as well as patterns consisting of the first third waves of the pandemic.
The new study comes from the Global Health Institute of Barcelona (ISGlobal); It was published in the magazine reviewed by Pares Nature Computational Science. The team analyzed the initial phase of COVID-19 disseminated in 162 countries in relation to local levels of humidity and temperature. The data were extracted before public health policies were implemented and people began to change their behaviors.
In addition, the study analyzed the link between the climate of the local level to a world level and how the virus evolved over time. The researchers found that when the temperature and humidity levels were lower, the COVID-19 transmission rate was greater. The team explains that they found “consistent patterns” to different geographical scales (cities, countries, etc.) during the first, second and their pandemics.
For example, the analysis found that the first COVID-19 waves slowed as moisture and temperature levels increased, while the second waves began when the weather began to cool again. The only exception was summer, which broke the pattern on all continents potentially due to things such as an increase in tourism and group meetings.
Beyond that, the researchers used an epidemiological model to demonstrate that the climate factorization with the transmission rate improves the prediction of when the COVID-19 waves will increase and decrease. In addition to improving predictions, researchers point out that their study indicates a greater need for what they call ‘air hygiene’, referring to interior ventilation to help reduce aerosol spread.