As the whole world learns to live with the effect and impact of a deadly pandemic, an American study in Coronavirus and sunlight reveals some fascinating insight into the powers of sunlight on COVID-19.
The unpublished report by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that the trio of UV types in sunlight can kill coronavirus in minutes.
The directorate found that high humidity, temperatures and sunlight kill the virus in saliva droplets on non-porous surfaces and in the air.
DHS Science and Technology Advisor Bill Bryan said: “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have in killing the virus on surfaces and in the air."
He added: "We've seen a similar effect as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity or both is generally less favourable to the virus."
Sunlight contains three types of UV: UVA, UVB and UVC with UVA capable of penetrating deep into the skin as the vast majority of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the
Earth’s surface.UVB damages the DNA in your skin, leading to sunburn and eventually skin cancer. UVC is the relatively obscure part of the spectrum which is
particularly effective in destroying genetic material, whether in humans or viral particles.
As a result of UVC’s effectiveness in destroying genetic material, a concentrated form of UVC is now on the front line in the fight against coronavirus.
In China, entire buses are being disinfected using UVC, while UVC-emitting robots have been dispatched in hospitals to clean the hospital floors.
Mr Bryan did, however, warn summer would not kill the virus entirely stressing that “summer-like conditions” will lead to a decrease in virus transmissions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reiterated that sunlight does not prevent coronavirus and can be extremely damaging if used incorrectly, such as to sterile your hands.
The website reads: "You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is.
"Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19."
The DHS report triggered a bizarre outburst by Donald Trump who, on the back of the claims,proposed two dangerous new treatments,
which included injecting cleaning agents in the body and the use of ultraviolet lights.
The DHS study was carried out by the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, a laboratory in Maryland set up to
address biological threats in the aftermath of 9/11. It has long been known that UV light has a sterilizing effect because the radiation damages
the genetic material of viruses and their ability to replicate. Most viruses - such as SARS-CoV-2 - are covered with a thin membrane that is easily broken apart by UV rays.
