Has COVID-19 evolved into a new cold season virus?
Has COVID-19 evolved into a new cold season virus?
Renuka Ghosh, 42, used to look forward to celebrating her birthday on december 25, which also happened to be Christmas, and going on hikes in the mountains. But because she gets sick frequently around this time of year, the pandemic has changed her story of the winter. After three bouts, she now hides outside and spends most of her time inside.However, Renuka is data-faced with an obstacle that she cannot overcome: SARS-CoV-2 is evolving into a cold-weather virus. Its presence is conspicuous, peaking in the winter months and mimicking the yearly patterns of the flu and other less well-known viruses such as adenovirus, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Dr. rahul Pandit, Chair of the Intensive Care Unit at HN reliance Hospital and a former member of the state Covid task team, asserts that the virus is here to stay and is a wintertime nuisance.Why does the wintertime Covid intensify?According to research, colder temperatures and drier air promote the stability and spread of respiratory viruses, which may explain why COVID-19 is more common in the winter, says Dr. Lancelot Pinto, an epidemiologist and senior pulmonologist at Hinduja Hospital. They can mutate as a result. A COVID-19 positive person's cough produces aerosolized particles that stay in the air longer and endanger healthy persons.Dr. Subhash Salunkhe, the former chairman of the Covid-19 task committee, claims that COVID-19's distinctive features—such as its prolonged incubation period and capacity for asymptomatic spread—contribute to its unique impact on the dynamics of winter health. As a matter of fact, a 2020 study revealed that a just 1% drop in humidity could result in a noteworthy 6% rise in COVID-19 instances. The fact that both the second (2021) and the third (2022) waves in india occurred between december and March, when the nation's temperatures were lower, supports this. Omicron's JN.1 sub-variant is currently spreading as well.
Renuka Ghosh, 42, used to look forward to celebrating her birthday on december 25, which also happened to be Christmas, and going on hikes in the mountains. But because she gets sick frequently around this time of year, the pandemic has changed her story of the winter. After three bouts, she now hides outside and spends most of her time inside.However, Renuka is data-faced with an obstacle that she cannot overcome: SARS-CoV-2 is evolving into a cold-weather virus. Its presence is conspicuous, peaking in the winter months and mimicking the yearly patterns of the flu and other less well-known viruses such as adenovirus, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Dr. rahul Pandit, Chair of the Intensive Care Unit at HN reliance Hospital and a former member of the state Covid task team, asserts that the virus is here to stay and is a wintertime nuisance.Why does the wintertime Covid intensify?According to research, colder temperatures and drier air promote the stability and spread of respiratory viruses, which may explain why COVID-19 is more common in the winter, says Dr. Lancelot Pinto, an epidemiologist and senior pulmonologist at Hinduja Hospital. They can mutate as a result. A COVID-19 positive person's cough produces aerosolized particles that stay in the air longer and endanger healthy persons.Dr. Subhash Salunkhe, the former chairman of the Covid-19 task committee, claims that COVID-19's distinctive features—such as its prolonged incubation period and capacity for asymptomatic spread—contribute to its unique impact on the dynamics of winter health. As a matter of fact, a 2020 study revealed that a just 1% drop in humidity could result in a noteworthy 6% rise in COVID-19 instances. The fact that both the second (2021) and the third (2022) waves in india occurred between december and March, when the nation's temperatures were lower, supports this. Omicron's JN.1 sub-variant is currently spreading as well.