Sunlight kills virus quickly

[WarriorDad]

Sunlight and heat appear to kill the virus quickly.  Some good news according to preliminary results of study.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/04/17/sunlight-destroys-virus-quickly-new-govt-tests-find-but-experts-say-pandemic-could-last-through-summer/24017889/

[rocky_warrior]

Perfect, we can get back to business as normal - as long as that business occurs on a outdoor patio on a sunny day 

[wadesworld]

Our warm weather miracle!

[tower912]

Landscaping, home construction, general outdoor construction, open up the parks, outdoor sports...   It is time.

[rocky_warrior]

Landscaping, home construction, general outdoor construction, open up the parks, outdoor sports...   It is time.

This all varies by the state anyway.  Around me - contractors, landscaping, etc are essential, and parks are open (except playgrounds and areas that lots of people would congregate).

[MU82]

Landscaping, home construction, general outdoor construction, open up the parks, outdoor sports...   It is time.

Except for parks and sports, never stopped in NC.

[forgetful]

Define quickly? It is likely true that several hours of exposure (depending on UV content) to the sun will kill the virus. But, if you are playing in a park, and a person is breathing hard, and you are breathing in the same air, the sun is having no effect on the virus.

There really hasn't been much fear of people getting infected from sidewalks, and surfaces outside. It is when people are not social distancing that there is a problem.

But I'm game, let's just have everyone work outside, 6-8 feet apart.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

This all varies by the state anyway.  Around me - contractors, landscaping, etc are essential, and parks are open (except playgrounds and areas that lots of people would congregate).

Same here in Connecticut.

[mu_hilltopper]

Define quickly? It is likely true that several hours of exposure (depending on UV content) to the sun will kill the virus. But, if you are playing in a park, and a person is breathing hard, and you are breathing in the same air, the sun is having no effect on the virus.

The link had the actual DHS presentation.

At "Full Intensity" the half-life was 2 minutes.  Half Intensity = 3 min,  Quarter = 4 minutes.

Full Intensity = "NYC during a clear day on summer solstice" ..
Quarter = "NYC clear day end of February.

"Sunlight reduced infectious virus to undetectable after just 3 minutes of exposure to the equivalent of midday sun on a clear day in the middle latitudes of the US."

If true .. that's really promising.

[Jay Bee]

The link had the actual DHS presentation.

At "Full Intensity" the half-life was 2 minutes.  Half Intensity = 3 min,  Quarter = 4 minutes.

Full Intensity = "NYC during a clear day on summer solstice" ..
Quarter = "NYC clear day end of February.

"Sunlight reduced infectious virus to undetectable after just 3 minutes of exposure to the equivalent of midday sun on a clear day in the middle latitudes of the US."

If true .. that's really promising.

...for a few months... and deeennnnnn

[forgetful]

The link had the actual DHS presentation.

At "Full Intensity" the half-life was 2 minutes.  Half Intensity = 3 min,  Quarter = 4 minutes.

Full Intensity = "NYC during a clear day on summer solstice" ..
Quarter = "NYC clear day end of February.

"Sunlight reduced infectious virus to undetectable after just 3 minutes of exposure to the equivalent of midday sun on a clear day in the middle latitudes of the US."

If true .. that's really promising.

Thanks for pointing this out. Looking over it, I don't believe this data at all. Perusing their results, it would be rejected by every peer reviewed journal.

They haven't even completed any of the studies yet. Why would they release this publicly? It makes no sense to put out an incomplete study, with zero methodology.

Also, the half-life's they report are inconsistent with detailed and published studies using much higher intensity UV lights (studies looking at N95 mask sterilization approaches using UV).

This has also been studied extensively for SARS and other coronaviruses. This data contradicts all prior studies. My guess, is they have an error in experimental setup. One of three things, either they have a photosensitizer in their culture medium for maintaining the virus (this is common and you need to be very careful what media you use when doing studies with light), or they are not taking the local temperature. Mimicking full-spectrum solar intensity generates considerable heat, so if they are only setting a thermostat, and not measuring local temperature, you can be off by 10-20 C.

The third, if they are inexperienced with solar intensity studies, they may be using published solar intensities for what hits the atmosphere, instead of what hits the actual surface of the earth. The former has substantially higher amounts of UV light. I'd believe those intensities would kill the virus in minutes.

Edit: I'm a little salty on this, because I've been seeing a lot of science coming out of the DHS and other govt institutions that seem like they are politically/goal driven, and not careful peer-reviewed science. That ends up giving science a bad reputation.

[warriorchick]

So, we might be able to take the expression "Sunlight is the best disinfectant" literally now.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Sun yes, hear no?

Guess we will find out soon in the numbers. 

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/493530-french-researchers-high-temperatures-ineffective-against-coronavirus

[Coleman]

I'm not really seeing anything groundbreaking about this. Outdoor activity is fine, as long as you can still stay 6 feet away from people, who could potentially cough on you and get you sick. But I think this has always been the case.

Still makes it incredibly difficult to open parks, playgrounds, beaches, etc., especially in urban areas. 

Golf courses could be ok, especially if walking only.

Don't really see this information changing much in the way of how we respond COVID-19.

[Goose]

WarriorDad

I am only buying into this theory if, and ONLY if, Hards gives his stamp of approval. I know he is likely busy working on the opening of businesses around the country, entering data into his multiple modeling charts, independent testing on possible vaccines and working with multiple state Gov's on delivery of PPE's...but, I know he will find time to approve or disapprove your post. FYI--I have pretty good idea which way he will go.

[withoutbias]

WarriorDad

I am only buying into this theory if, and ONLY if, Hards gives his stamp of approval. I know he is likely busy working on the opening of businesses around the country, entering data into his multiple modeling charts, independent testing on possible vaccines and working with multiple state Gov's on delivery of PPE's...but, I know he will find time to approve or disapprove your post. FYI--I have pretty good idea which way he will go.

Good! Let's try to get the entire Covid board locked up!

Let me give it a try!

I'll only buy it if Keefer comes on here claiming it's the greatest tool you've ever seen! And when someone points out ways to improve it, instead of giving his good pal a heads up, he just condescendingly tells the person pointing out the clear holes in the tool that he's an idiot and his great friend is way smarter! And now that this perfect tool is being ridiculed nationally, Keefer has gone into hiding from the thread. Shocker! That's what real manly men who love eating meat do.

[Galway Eagle]

Good! Let's try to get the entire Covid board locked up!

Let me give it a try!

I'll only buy it if Keefer comes on here claiming it's the greatest tool you've ever seen! And when someone points out ways to improve it, instead of giving his good pal a heads up, he just condescendingly tells the person pointing out the clear holes in the tool that he's an idiot and his great friend is way smarter! And now that this perfect tool is being ridiculed nationally, Keefer has gone into hiding from the thread. Shocker! That's what real manly men who love eating meat do.

Did I miss this happening?

[Hards Alumni]

WarriorDad

I am only buying into this theory if, and ONLY if, Hards gives his stamp of approval. I know he is likely busy working on the opening of businesses around the country, entering data into his multiple modeling charts, independent testing on possible vaccines and working with multiple state Gov's on delivery of PPE's...but, I know he will find time to approve or disapprove your post. FYI--I have pretty good idea which way he will go.

Classy.  Attempting to goad me into insulting you so you and your buddies can whine about how I should be banned.

Lots of true colors coming through here.  But they've always been on display.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Good! Let's try to get the entire Covid board locked up!

Let me give it a try!

I'll only buy it if Keefer comes on here claiming it's the greatest tool you've ever seen! And when someone points out ways to improve it, instead of giving his good pal a heads up, he just condescendingly tells the person pointing out the clear holes in the tool that he's an idiot and his great friend is way smarter! And now that this perfect tool is being ridiculed nationally, Keefer has gone into hiding from the thread. Shocker! That's what real manly men who love eating meat do.

So, are you asking for a Coronavirus haiku thread?

[The Sultan]

Did I miss this happening?

https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=60356.msg1228001#msg1228001

[jesmu84]

WarriorDad

I am only buying into this theory if, and ONLY if, Hards gives his stamp of approval. I know he is likely busy working on the opening of businesses around the country, entering data into his multiple modeling charts, independent testing on possible vaccines and working with multiple state Gov's on delivery of PPE's...but, I know he will find time to approve or disapprove your post. FYI--I have pretty good idea which way he will go.

Goose - bad look here from you.

[Goose]

jesmu

I can only speak for myself, but two months of Hards preaching on every Covid topic has grown old. I stayed off for a couple of weeks and wish I had not engaged.
Be safe, everyone!!

[Pakuni]

Goose seems very mad
That Hards has strong opinions
He should take that walk

[MUfan12]

At home, so weary
For f*cks sake, Frozen again?
Can't wait to play golf

[Skatastrophy]

The only valuable part of the article.

"In a statement to Yahoo News, the DHS declined to answer questions about the findings and strongly cautioned against drawing any conclusions based on unpublished data."

More bad science journalism.