Climate and temperature on attack rate and viability of COVID-19

Chan, K.H., et al 2011 published an article on the “Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS Coronavirus” which studied the stability of the virus at different temperatures and relative humidity on smooth surfaces. “The dried virus on smooth surfaces retained its viability for over 5 days at temperatures of 22–25°C and relative humidity of 40–50%, that is, typical air-conditioned environments. However, virus viability was rapidly lost (>3 log10) at higher temperatures and higher relative humidity (e.g., 38°C, and relative humidity of >95%).”  

“The better stability of SARS coronavirus at low temperature and low humidity environment may facilitate its transmission in community in subtropical area (such as Hong Kong) during the spring and in air-conditioned environments. It may also explain why some Asian countries in tropical area (such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand) with high temperature and high relative humidity environment did not have major community outbreaks of SARS.”  

Link: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/av/2011/734690/