Bring on the summer! Landmark Australian study confirms coronavirus DOES hate tropical weather as it's revealed the disease thrives in low humidity - and it could explain Queensland's success
- Study suggests lower humidity could heavily impact the spread of coronavirus
- Experts say drier air makes particles smaller and can stay in the air for longer
- Professor Michael Ward said this poses a higher risk of community transmission
- 'This suggests the need for people to wear a mask,' Professor Ward said in study
Coronavirus is spreading easily in areas of Australia with lower humidity, according to a landmark new study.
Low humidity causes an increase in community transmission of COVID-19, Professor Michael Ward, an epidemiologist at the University of Sydney, found.
The study could signal a drop in COVID-19 cases when summer begins as humidity is higher - meaning a lower risk of virus droplets reaching a person's respiratory system.
This study reaffirmed previous research by the same team that was conducted in July, with both being focused on the Greater Sydney region.
Humidity impacts the transmission of airborne viruses, with tropical, humid climates such as northern Queensland making it difficult for particles to spread to others.
With just a one per cent drop in relative humidity, there may be an increase of eight per cent of COVID-19 cases, the study found.
A study has found an association between lower humidity and an increase in community transmission of COVID-19 (pictured, a woman wears a face mask in Bondi on August 2)
Cases are expected to increase two-fold when there is a ten per cent drop in humidity.
'When the humidity is lower, the air is drier and it makes the aerosols smaller,' Professor Ward said.
'When you sneeze and cough those smaller infectious aerosols can stay suspended in the air for longer.
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'That increases the exposure for other people. When the air is humid and the aerosols are larger and heavier, they fall and hit surfaces quicker.'
He said that if people are in an area of low humidity, wearing a mask can help prevent infectious aerosols escaping into the air from infectious people.
Wearing a face covering can also help limit the exposure to infectious aerosols in the case of an uninfected person.
With a one per cent drop in relative humidity there may be an increase of eight per cent of COVID-19 cases (pictured, a woman having her tempature checked in Sydney)
'This second study adds to a growing body of evidence that humidity is a key factor in the spread of COVID-19,' Professor Ward said.
Professor Ward said the data shows there is a prospect for seasonal disease outbreaks.
Brisbane's humidity is between 60 and 80 per cent for the majority of the year, with February the most humid month and September the least.
The average humidity is 68 per cent.
The state has had 1,091 cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began with just seven currently active.
Professor Ward said drier air makes particles smaller and they stay suspended in the air longer, meaning more risk of transmission. Pictured: People wait for a bus in the CBD on August 18
This is compared to NSW where humidity in Sydney is between 40 and just over 60 per cent relative humidity.
The average is 57 per cent and August is the least humid month.
NSW has had 3,770 cases of coronavirus with 122 currently active.
Professor Ward said further studies were needed to understand the extent of the relationship between humidity and COVID-19.
Melbourne - which is currently plagued by the most COVID-19 cases in the country - has an average humidity of 66 per cent, with January being the least humid month, when its cases were far lower.
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