A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine was sent to the White House this week.  In it is an analysis of how warm weather might affect COVID-19.

Spectrum Bay News 9 went over the report with Dr. Michael Teng, a USF Professor of Molecular Medicine who specializes in virology. 

He said the theory that we could see a decrease in COVID-19 cases during warmer weather is likely false.

“I think some of this arose from the initial misconception that this was just a flu,” Dr. Teng said. 

But Teng said not to count on COVID-19 being seasonal.  It’s the same point that was made in the nine-page report, called a rapid expert consultation, sent to the White House on Tuesday.

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Teng explains that the laboratory studies included in the report show though the virus has some reaction to warmer temperatures, it’s minimal.  

“There are lab results that show there is some sensitivity to heat,” Teng said.  “But they go on to say that even with the sensitivity to heat, what we see epidemiologically is very small effects of temperature on the ability of this virus to spread within the human population.”

The report also points to current situations globally, stating in part: “…countries currently in summer climates such as Australia and Iran are experiencing rapid virus spread.

“It’s going into all communities, whether it’s warm or cold,” Dr. Teng said. “The social distancing that we are doing now has much more impact than the weather."