Coronavirus Dies in Sunlight Within Minutes, US Homeland Security Department Says

However, it has not yet been proven that the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide will decrease in the summer.

Coronavirus dies in sunlight within minutes. This is stated in a study by the US Department of Homeland Security, Daily Mail reports.

The study's results were presented to journalists at the White House by William Bryan, science and technology adviser at the US Department of Homeland Security.

The study showed that radiation emitted by ultraviolet light damages the virus's genes and limits its ability to reproduce.

William Bryan
science and technology adviser at the Department of Homeland Security

The most striking observation to date: strong exposure to sunlight destroys the virus both on surfaces and in the air. We observed a similar effect where rising temperature and humidity generally had an adverse effect on the virus.

The report says the virus cannot survive at high temperatures and humidity.

The virus's half-life, the time needed for its quantity to be reduced by half, was 18 hours at a temperature of 21-24C and 20% humidity on a door handle and stainless steel.

The half-life dropped to 6 hours when humidity rose to 80%, and to 2 minutes when sunlight was added to the equation.

When the virus was aerosolized, meaning suspended in the air, the half-life was one hour at a temperature of 21-24C with 20% humidity.

The report also says these results still need to be proven and do not mean that the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide will decrease in the summer. 

Bryan concluded that summer conditions "will create an environment where virus transmission may be reduced".

However, he added that this does not mean the pathogen will be completely eliminated, so social distancing should be maintained going forward.

Earlier, it became known that Ukraine plans to begin mass testing for immunity to the coronavirus.