What Does COVID-19 Have to Do with Winter?

The government is expecting another round of coronavirus infections during the winter in Bangladesh. Various preparations have been made for this. The number of new infections and deaths has also been on the rise in recent days.

The number of new cases is also increasing in cold countries. However, in countries like Bangladesh and India, coronavirus has spread widely even in hot weather.

Coronavirus has not been proven to have any relationship with cold. However, there are other strains of the coronavirus that increase the incidence of diseases such as the common cold and cough, which have been shown to increase with the onset of a cold.

There are four types of coronavirus that cause the common cold. Each spreads easily during the winter. Influenza, rhinovirus, and another virus called RSV - all behave very similarly.

But researchers and scientists have seen different images of it across the country.

Raushan Ara Khanam, a chest specialist in Bangladesh, told BBC Bangla: "Although the incidence of the virus has started to rise again after a slight decline, we have not yet found any link between cold and temperature. Coronavirus analysis shows that everything is completely new.

He said that the spread of coronavirus in Bangladesh started in March when the winter ended here. The highest number of deaths and deaths were reported in May, June and July when it was hot in Bangladesh.

The same has happened in neighboring India. As a result, hot weather did not hinder the spread of coronavirus. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time. The spread of coronavirus has not stopped even in summer in temperate countries.

"Studies have shown that the virus has a special relationship with the cold and that the spread of the virus will increase if the cold increases," he said.

However, there is still disagreement among scientists as to whether the cold is more responsible for the spread of the coronavirus or human behavior.

According to the BBC experts, not only the weather but also the policy of the authorities, health protection, public awareness, etc., many things work.

Experts say the virus is changing its behavior in different countries. As a result, coronavirus behavior varies from country to country.

Former Additional Director General of the Department of Health and Professor of Microbiology. Sania Tahmina told BBC Bangla: "Winter is ideal for the temperature at which the virus grows, can easily infect or spread rapidly. This is why it is thought that the virus may spread in the winter. ''

Due to the low humidity in the air at this time, when sneezing or coughing, small particles of germs float in the air for a long time. It destroys quickly when it is hot, but stays in the air for a long time during the winter. As a result, people are at higher risk of becoming infected.

Dr. Sania Tahmina says that in winter, people stay indoors and doors and windows are closed. The environment is dry, people also live a little closer. As a result, there is a greater chance of the virus spreading during this time.

Experts in the UK say temperatures of four degrees Celsius have been found to be particularly favorable for coronaviruses. Other viruses in the coronavirus family have also been found to be more prevalent in cold climates.

In the case of coronavirus bacteria, the nuclear envelope, that is, the outer layer of the virus, which surrounds the genetic particles of the bacterium, is called the lipid membrane. This coating is kind of oily. It can last a long time in winter environment. The sun's ultraviolet rays, which are capable of inactivating the virus, are also low.

However, there is no scientific evidence that the SARS-COV-2 virus spreads more when it is cold.

Dr. Raushan Ara Khanam says, “The virus is changing its character in every country. As a result, we have not yet been able to find out exactly under what circumstances in Bangladesh, why the spread of the virus increases or decreases. Maybe the virus has changed its character and increased its power. "Because in every country we see a second round of infection."

Risk of virus contagion

It is often seen that many diseases like common colds increase in winter. People who have pneumonia or chest pain also become more overwhelmed at this time.

There are many similarities between these symptoms and the symptoms of coronavirus.

Chest specialist Raushan Ara Khanam says the symptoms are much the same, so there is less chance of differentiation. As a result, if someone shows such symptoms, it is necessary to take precautions and measures like coronavirus.

A big challenge here will be to differentiate the coronavirus from the common flu. This is because the symptoms of the coronavirus and the common flu are often the same.

Another concern for scientists now is the coronavirus, also known as SARS-COV-2, if it starts mixing with other viruses.

Studies have shown that one type of virus infection also provides an opportunity for another type of virus to attack. However, in this case, the hope is that if the body's immune system is created by the attack of one virus, it will also help prevent the attack of another virus. However, more than one virus has been infected at the same time, such examples are very rare.

"Since the symptoms are almost the same, anyone who now has symptoms of a common cold or cough should check for coronavirus immediately," he said. Raushan Ara Begum.

Protection from virus attacks

Experts say that in this case, as the number of tests should be increased, people should also become interested in getting tested after the symptoms of colds appear.

At the same time, to protect against coronavirus, everyone should strictly observe the precautions that are said to be taken, such as maintaining social distance and washing hands.

Director of the Institute of Pathology, Disease Control and Research. Earlier, Tahmina Shirin told BBC Bangla, "Everyone has to insist on adhering to hygiene rules to ensure their safety. The things that have been said for so long, such as hand washing, sneezing and coughing, need to be strictly adhered to.

"At the same time, the issues of maintaining social distance must be continued."

So far 4 lakh 37 thousand 695 people have been infected with coronavirus in Bangladesh. And 6 thousand 275 people have died due to this disease. In Bangladesh, an average of 16,000 tests are being done every day.

However, more than 5 crore 57 lakh 72 thousand people have been infected with coronavirus in the world so far. More than 13 lakh 39 thousand people have died all over the world.