Beijing today saw the first snowfall after the Lunar New Year. Some were wondering whether snow can kill the new coronavirus. Is it finally possible to go out and play?
Two experts from Beijing Ditan Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital believe that the relationship between weather and the epidemic is very complicated, and it takes time to understand the new coronavirus, and the public should not rush out, according to the Beijing News.
Wang Linghang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases Emergency Department of Beijing Ditan Hospital, believes that the public's understanding of the epidemic should not be changed due to changes in weather.
"Take the flu as an example. The weather is cold in winter and spring, but it is the active period of the flu virus, and the new coronavirus is a new virus that has been mutated. Under what conditions can it be killed, the current understanding is still not mature enough. Research on it It takes time to deepen. "Wang Linghang said.
Zhang Liming, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, also believes that one cannot be blindly optimistic because of lower temperatures. "It's not cold that kills the virus. Some laboratory virus specimens are preserved in low temperatures, and some survive long."
With regard to the impact of snowy days on the overall epidemic, two experts believe that it is too early to draw conclusions, and that the cause-effect relationship is more complicated.
Zhang Liming said that on the one hand, snowy days do reduce aerosol transmission, and the carrier particles in the air can be deposited on the ground; on the other hand, the virus has not been eliminated as a result.
Wang Linghang believes that the local temperature, air humidity, and duration at the time of snowing are all influencing factors and should be comprehensively analyzed.
"The changes in the weather have brought a psychological signal that will make everyone yearn for epidemic control, but at present, we should still focus on home and reduce gatherings. If we go to parties or snowball fights, the risk of respiratory transmission increases, which is not conducive to self-protection and epidemic control "Said Wang Linghang.
Zhang Liming reminded that now is the crucial time to reduce the further spread of the virus and the public try not to go out. In addition to respiratory tract transmission, the virus may also spread through contact. In public areas, if you touch an object with the virus attached, and then touch your eyes or nose, you may get infected. If you want to go out, remember to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and protect yourself.