US scientists say sunlight destroys coronavirus quickly, hope it would ease in summer

A top US official while talking to press on April 23 said that government scientists have found that sunlight destroys new coronavirus quickly, offering hope that its spread may ease in summer. Though study has t been made public yet, official told reporters that ultraviolet rays had a powerful impact on virus. William Bryan, Acting Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science and Techlogy, was speaking at White House when he informed reporters about new research. 

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"Our most striking observation to date is powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing virus, both surfaces and in air. We've seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing temperature and humidity or both are generally less favorable to virus. virus is dying at a much more rapid pace just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity," William told reporters during briefing. 

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Findings

William used slides to present major findings carried out by National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center in Maryland. findings showed that it takes about eight hours for virus to reduce to half its amount if exposed to 21 to 24 degrees Celcius with 20 per cent humidity on a n-porous surface. However, half-time was reduced to just six hours with 80 per cent humidity and just two minutes when exposed to sunlight with equation. 

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Although findings showed that solar light had a potent impact on virus, William advised people to still follow safety guidelines issued by department of health. He said, " virus survives for a shorter period in sunlight, but that should t be an invitation to igre safety guidelines. It would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that summer is just gonna totally kill virus and it will be free for all and that people igre those guidelines, that's t case."

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(Im Credit: AP)