A research team at the Kinki University School of Medicine examined the effects of climate and air pollution on the spread of the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection in Japan, and examined the effects of "moderately high outside temperature", "long sunshine time", and "suspended particulate matter". It was clarified that the higher the concentration, the higher the risk of spreading the infection.
Since the main transmission route of the new coronavirus infection is droplet infection or contact transmission when the person is in close proximity, it is important to clarify the effect of the environment surrounding the person on the infection.Since seasonal influenza and cold viruses with similar transmission routes have been reported to be related to weather and air pollution, the team has been working on the relationship between the spread of the new coronavirus infection and weather and air pollution. I checked.
In order to elucidate the effects of weather and air pollution during the first wave of infection expansion in Japan, 2 areas of Japan from January 1 to April 15, 4nd year before the declaration of an emergency were infected. Statistical analysis of expansion status, meteorological data and air pollution data was carried out.As a result, it was found that the higher the outside temperature, the longer the daylight hours, and the higher the concentration of suspended particulate matter, the higher the risk of spreading the infection.
It has been reported that the survival rate of the new coronavirus decreases as the temperature rises, and it has been reported that sunlight (ultraviolet rays) has the effect of killing the virus, so the high outside temperature will spread the infection. It is not considered to have a direct effect.In other words, the results of this study indicate that increased human behavior on warm and sunny days may have contributed to the spread of infection, suggesting that appropriate infection prevention measures in each individual's behavior are important. ..
Particulate matter in the air may increase the risk of respiratory tract infections of the new coronavirus, and there was concern that the risk of infection would increase in areas where air pollution is worsening.
The team will continue to study the impact of the environment on new coronavirus infections in order to study future infection prevention measures.
Paper information:[Environmental Research] Impact of climate and ambient air pollution on the epidemic growth during COVID-19 outbreak in Japan
