COVID-19, the dangerous infectious disease caused due to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has spread like wildfire across the globe, affecting millions of people and claiming thousands of lives.

Many people are currently staying indoors due to strict lockdowns imposed by government officials in their countries. While some are being extra cautious and taking added precautions to prevent coronavirus infection in their families, like frequent hand washing and following social distancing guidelines, several others are of the opinion that they can boldly step out now, as temperatures are soaring, summer has arrived, and the coronavirus infection will not survive the extremely high temperatures.

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However, contrary to popular belief, this is not a fact and far from reality. Coronavirus disease is not a seasonal infection nor is it easily weakened by extreme weather conditions, such as in freezing winters or blazing summers. This has been proven by the sheer number of people affected by the respiratory illness both, in the northern hemispheres where summer is fast approaching, and in the southern hemispheres where the onset of winter is near.

COVID-19 is a pandemic, one that cuts across cities, countries and even continents, wherein the infection is dispersed at a rapid pace from an afflicted person to a healthy individual. This lethal respiratory illness presents with symptoms like cough, cold, fever, headaches and breathing difficulties. The disease can even result in grave consequences like pneumonia or severe lung infections, particularly in the vulnerable population such as the elderly, diabetics and heart patients. Also Read: COVID-19 And Diabetes: Effective Ways To Manage The Condition

Another compelling reason for people to believe that the incidence of COVID-19 will gradually subside as its symptoms are being often compared to flu on many occasions. Also Read: Coronavirus And Flu: This Is How COVID-19 And Influenza Differ At Many Levels

In the case of the flu, the virus causing the ailment thrived and spread rapidly in the dry and chill conditions in winter, but did not infect as many people in the hot and humid summer. COVID-19 also being a viral infection and displaying symptoms resembling a lung and breathing problem like the flu, people were sure that the deadly coronavirus disease would disappear by itself in warmer weather.

However, the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus causing COVID-19 and its pathogenic characteristics are still being investigated by scientists, medical professionals and researchers worldwide, to gain further insight into its survival conditions and exact mechanisms of triggering the disease. Studies conducted thus far have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 can endure a broad range of temperatures, becoming inactive only at freezing conditions of 4 degrees Celcius and below.

Hence, it is important to understand that COVID-19 can infect people in all climates, be it winter, spring, summer or autumn and can affect people of all ages. The best way to stay safe and disease-free is prevention, by staying indoors, following social distancing, wearing masks when going out for a walk or to buy essentials, washing hands with soap frequently and covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing.

Here are some useful tips to keep illnesses, including COVID-19, at bay in the blazing summer:

• Consume refreshing beverages, like tender coconut and watermelon juice, to cool down the system and reduce body heat, which can make a person more susceptible to contracting seasonal illnesses.
• Make sure all vaccinations have been given for newborns, babies and kids below the age of 5, as their immune system is still developing, and they are more prone to summer colds.
• Keep surroundings at home, in the backyard and parking space clean and properly disinfected, as both children and adults spend most of the time in these areas due to the lockdown.
• Consume clean food and drink prepared from fresh ingredients as much as possible, to avert instances of food poisoning due to germs in foodstuff or contaminated water.
• If you need to visit a hospital due to some emergency in times of COVID-19 lockdown, ensure to disinfect your hands frequently with a hand sanitizer, besides taking preventive medications, as hospital-related illnesses also spread fast in hot weather.