It has long been rumored that heat may be able to counteract the devastating effects of the coronavirus which is why UV lights have proven to be an effective sanitation tool and why a lot of people think that the virus might subside in the summer time before a second wave hits later in the year. However, two new studies seem to indicate that it is actually relative humidity that plays a key role, not heat itself, with dry air like that found inside offices, or on airplanes, that allows the virus to wreck the most havoc.
According to Futurism:
“Two independent studies have identified a useful tool for stopping the coronavirus: humid air.
According to the research, dry air not only hampers our lungs’ ability to clear out respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, but also makes it harder for our immune systems to fight it off once we’ve been infected…
And on the contrary, relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent seems to make it much harder for the coronavirus to take hold — an epidemiological clue that we could weaponize against the virus.”
How exactly can we do that? How can we weaponize this information to arm ourselves against COVID-19?! Get a humidifier!
As Newsweek puts it:
“This characteristic of the virus offers hope that we can mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus with simple measures such as installing humidifiers in the home. In the dry winter months, cold air gets pulled into the home and heated, which lowers the relative humidity—in other words, the heated air is capable of holding more moisture than it actually contains. Such dry air impairs the lungs’ ability to clear out invading viruses and the immune system’s ability to keep the virus from replicating.”
If you happen to already have a humidifier now would be a good time to dust it off. And if you don’t have one now would be a great time to go out and get one. Just in case there really is something to this research. Especially if you live in Arizona like me, a place famous for its “dry heat” and complete absence of humidity!
Is using humidifiers to ward off the coronavirus the Greatest Idea Ever?
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