[THREAD] The White House today promoted a new lab study on the coronavirus' susceptibility to ultraviolet light, as well as heat and humidity as a reason to think this outbreak will wane as the weather gets warmer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/23/lab-study-coronavirus-summer-weather/ 1/

The study was carried out under the auspices of the Dept. of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, at an Army biohazard lab in Ft. Detrick, MD. They confirmed the suspicions of many researchers I've spoken to in the past few months. 2/

Namely, that the virus is likely to be less transmissible during the summer, due to the virus' characteristics (won't stay viable in direct sunlight and/or heat as long as it does in colder, drier weather) but also to human behavior, with more outdoor activities. 3/

BUT this won't be the case in areas where there is uncontrolled community spread, i.e. you still need more testing, social distancing etc. in those areas to get it under control even in summer. There's no quick fix, not even a hot, humid DC summer. 4/

President Trump bizarrely suggested (not just once, either) that heat and UV light should be used to treat #covid19, or at least this should be looked into. Trump also said he felt vindicated about his February comments that the virus would disappear with warm weather. 5/

The lab study is just that: A lab study. A recent NAS report found there are many uncertainties on seasonality, and it would be foolish/dangerous to think the summer weather will squelch this virus by itself, without continued measures like social distancing & testing. 6/

Even Bill Bryan, the DHS official overseeing the science and technology portfolio there, cautioned that it would be "irresponsible" to say that the summer heat and sun will get rid of the coronavirus. Instead, he framed it as one "tool in the toolbox." 7/

This could provide the U.S. with a window to slow the spread further, while preparing for another assault come fall/winter. Though the last time we had a window of opportunity, in late Jan/February, the time was squandered. Time, and more scientific studies, will tell. 8/

One last thing about this briefing: It was striking to get a lab study briefing from a DHS official who has a background in intelligence, rather than, say, someone from a CDC lab. The sidelining of that agency from pandemic communications is glaring. 9/9