Mark Puleo, an Accuweather staff writer, gave us an updated article on January 22. He informs us that researchers are continuing to increase their understanding of the role ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays in the pandemic spread. The virus’ seasonability remains an important part of the puzzle. An environmental study could indeed help to better see the viral spread patterns and inform the public health responses such as our present vaccination program. A recent research project, published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that UV light does produce a particularly significant effect on the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This newer study is hoping to refine strategies to slow and stop the coronavirus.
Last March, Accuweather Founder and CEO, Dr. Joel Myers, discussed the potential impact from radiation when he asked the question “How large of a piece of the virus’ puzzle is caused by UV radiation?”
He stressed “If the coronavirus behaves like most other viruses, then as the sun grows stronger day by day, and as we head towards the summer solstice, the stronger sun and increased hours of sunshine would start to take their toll on the virus….particularly as the sun gets stronger in April and May.”
The meteorologist continued “The point of most rapid increase in sun intensity, as well as duration of the day, begins over the days around the vernal equinox, which occurs on March 20 this year.”
Jonathan Proctor, one of the authors of the National Academy of Sciences study, explains that his team used environmental data (temperature, humidity, and UV radiation from sunlight) to check on how case totals responded to periods of particularly strong UV radiation. This was especially important in studying the period of time occurring about two weeks later when important dips in illnesses occurred. The scientist noted that the effects of humidity and temperature both proved to be “significantly insignificant.” Other weather elements, however, might come into play here also.
Proctor states, “It could be that the virus is deactivated (by UV light), which would suggest that something like sterilizing using UV lamps could be beneficial.” Proctor adds another known factor is sunnier days that produce people usually outdoors for congregating, rather than inside where the virus can spread more easily.
He continues, “Or the dip could be from an immunological effect in which the production of vitamin D in sunlight stimulates the immune system to work better.”
Vitamin D deficiencies, especially in older adults who are obese and have medically predisposed conditions, are known to have led to a higher mortality rate in countries located above 35 degrees latitude North on a map (about three- quarters of our entire country).
Proctor does emphasize that “Waiting on the return of increased sunlight isn’t going to be a successful mitigation practice alone.”
In other words, all of us still need to follow health guidelines.
“Any help the sunlight may provide in the battle against the coronavirus is (still) fractional,” he states. He finalizes the study’s report with the following comment: “When we compared to the full effect of seasonality, winter to summer in the say Northern or Southern Hemisphere, that effect appears to be (only) a third to a sixth the size of social distancing policies.”
