WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 06: U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a roundtable discussion with small business owners and members of his administration in the Roosevelt Room at the White House December 06, 2019 in Washington, DC.
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.”
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
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.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) is facing criticism for comments made in a meeting with members…
Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary during Joe Biden's term in office, announced that…
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-New York) announced plans to build a nuclear power plant in upstate…
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a former top deputy for President Donald Trump, called the Republican…
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina's decision to stop covering Planned Parenthood's…
A federal judge ruled on June 24 that the Trump administration cannot eliminate union bargaining…