Misconceptions about weather and seasonality must not misguide COVID-19 response

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 4312
• Main Authors: Carlson, Colin J., Gomez, Ana C. R., Bansal, Shweta, Ryan, Sadie J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.08.2020; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158/1469; 631/326/596/4130; 704/172; Betacoronavirus; Comment; Communication; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease transmission; Guidelines as Topic; Health Policy; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Models, Theoretical; multidisciplinary; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Public Health - legislation & jurisprudence; Public Health - standards; Risk perception; SARS-CoV-2; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seasonal variations; Seasons; Weather

Weather may marginally affect COVID-19 dynamics, but misconceptions about the way that climate and weather drive exposure and transmission have adversely shaped risk perceptions for both policymakers and citizens. Future scientific work on this politically-fraught topic needs a more careful approach...