Trump Says Summer Heat Could Stop Coronavirus Spread, Critics Aren’t So Sure

President Donald Trump suggested that warm and humid weather could drastically slow the coronavirus, citing research from his Department of Homeland Security (DHS), at a White House briefing on Thursday.

“Maybe this goes away with heat and light. It seems like that’s the case,” Trump said. “I think a lot of people are going to go outside all of a sudden.”

William Bryan, the acting undersecretary of Science and Technology at DHS, presented a study showing the increased temperature, humidity and sunlight destroyed the virus when the temperatures of 95 degrees, 80% humidity, and summer sunlight were applied.

“Increasing the temperature and humidity of potentially contaminated indoor spaces appears to reduce the stability of the virus,” Bryan said. “And extra care may be warranted for dry environments that do not have exposure to solar light.”

Bryan, however, also noted that their findings were not the guarantee that Americans will suddenly be able to go outdoors without practicing social distancing during summer.

“It would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel the summer will totally kill the virus,” he said. “This is another tool in the tool belt.”

Medical professionals were quit to dispute Trump’s claims, saying there is no evidence that the virus’s spread will slow this summer.

Trump’s various suggestions regarding coronavirus during the White House briefings – such as injection of disinfectant as a potential coronavirus treatment – have caused alarm among medical professionals.