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Duque: nCoV thrives in colder, less humid places


The much-dreaded novel coronavirus thrives easier in areas with low temperature and low humidity, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday.

"If the temperature and humidity is low then the inactivation of the novel coronavirus takes a longer time," Duque said in an interview on ANC television.

"That's why there's no wonder why China, Japan, Korea—cold countries—US, Germany, France, they were  the first ones who were in fact reported. I believe that the climate has something to do with it," he added.

In a tropical country like the Philippines, the novel coronavirus is relatively easier to control, Duque said.

Dr. Rey Salinel, an infectious disease specialist, also shared the same view.

"Gustong-gusto po ng mga virus na 'yan malamig, low humidity at dim light pero kung summer dumating 'yan, wala tayong poproblemahin dahil 'yung araw will protect us," he said in a separate interview on Unang Hirit.

The novel coronavirus has an incubation period of 10 to 14 days and an infected person may pass it on to four other people at close range.

Duque stressed that there is no evidence yet to support the claims that an infected person can transmit the virus even before showing any symptoms.

Much is still unknown about this new strain of coronavirus, which has not been previously detected among humans, according to the World Health Organization.

The death toll in China where the outbreak started has already reached 213 on Friday. Almost 10,000 have been infected while the virus spreads to 18 other countries.

"The viruses are notorious for mutation that's why we need to be careful, we need to be monitoring the situation because we don't know how this thing is going to turn out eventually," Duque said.

The Philippines confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus on Thursday. —KBK, GMA News
 

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