A new study published in the journal revealed Frontiers in Public Health Coronavirus is likely to become a seasonal virus in countries with temperate climates, but only when herd immunity is reached, which is when a large proportion of people acquire immunity due to a previous infection with the disease.
Until that time, the scientists said, Covid 19 will continue to spread through different seasons, and these conclusions highlight the absolute importance of the public health measures now needed to control the virus.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Hassan Zirkat, of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, warned that “Covid-19 is here to stay and will continue to spread the disease throughout the year until the herd immunity is achieved .. Therefore, the public needs to learn how to live with it and continue to practice better.” Prevention measures, including wearing masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene and avoiding gatherings. “
And many respiratory viruses follow seasonal patterns, especially in temperate regions, for example, it is known that influenza and many types of corona viruses that cause colds reach their peak in winter in temperate regions, but they spread throughout the year in tropical regions.
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The authors reviewed these seasonal viruses, and studied the viral and host factors that control their seasonality as well as the latest knowledge on the stability and transmission of the Coronavirus.
The researchers explain that the survival of the virus in the air and on surfaces, exposure of people to infection, and human behaviors, such as indoor crowding, differ across seasons due to changes in temperature and humidity, and these factors affect the transmission of respiratory viruses at different times of the year.
However, compared to other respiratory viruses such as influenza, the COVID-19 It has a higher transmission rate, at least in part. This means that unlike influenza and other respiratory viruses, the factors governing virus seasonality cannot yet stop their spread. COVID-19 In the summer months.
But once you get to Herd immunity Through natural infection and vaccinations, the transmission rate should be greatly reduced, making the virus more susceptible to seasonal factors.
Such seasonality has been reported for other coronaviruses, including those that have appeared recently like NL63 And HKU1, Which follows the same circulation pattern as the flu.
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