Favorable climate has been named in a BBC report as one of the reasons why Covid-19 has been less deadly in Africa than elsewhere. Other reasons mentioned in the report titled “Coronavirus in Africa: Five reasons why Covid-19 has been less deadly than elsewhere” include quick action, public support, young population, few old-age homes and good community health systems.
But of all the reasons given, Favorable climate appears to be the most tenable.
According to a study conducted in the University of Maryland, US, there is a correlation between temperature, humidity and latitude, and the spread of Covid-19. “We looked at the early spread [of the virus] in 50 cities around the world. The virus had an easier time spreading in lower temperatures and humidity,” said Mohammad Sajadi, the lead researcher. “Not that it doesn’t spread in other conditions – it just spreads better when temperature and humidity drop.”
This finding becomes more valid when one considers that African countries that are far away from the tropics have been worst hit. The spread of the virus, for instance, accelerated in South Africa as the southern hemisphere went into winter.
But as it became warmer, the number of cases dropped significantly, impacting the continental outlook, as South Africa accounts for almost half the total number of cases and deaths on the continent.
The continent, which has a population of more than one billion, has had about 1.5 million cases, according to data compiled by the John Hopkins University.
These figures are far lower than those in Europe, Asia or the Americas, with reported cases continuing to decline.
Africa has recorded about 37,000 deaths, compared with roughly 580,000 in the Americas, 230,000 in Europe, and 205,000 in Asia.
