No evidence wet weather increases spread of COVID-19

By Yohan Perera   

Though there has been a notion that COVID-19 virus cannot spread in warm weather and it would spread further in rainy weather, a health expert in Sri Lanka yesterday said it was not possible to confirm that wet weather could increase the spread of the COVID-19.   

Head of the Epidemiologist Unit Dr Sudath Samaraweera told Daily Mirror that it was not possible to confirm that wet weather could increase the spread of the COVID-19 as it was a new virus.   

“We cannot confirm whether wet weather would increase the spread. However, any virus could spread fast in wet weather and we have to go by existing data,” he said.    Disaster Management Centre (DMC) also said one could make a conclusion as the disease had spread to some extent in Sri Lanka where there was dry weather for months.   
Department of Meteorology yesterday forecast showers or thundershowers at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western Provinces after 2 p.m.   
“Showers or thundershowers are expected at several places in the Uva Province and in Batticaloa and Ampara Districts as well in the coming days.   

“A few showers were likely in Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts as well. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.