SARS-CoV-2 is Not a Typical Winter Virus

Many respiratory virus illnesses, like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), peak during the fall and winter and then circulate at very low levels during the summer. Their winter seasonality is largely attributed to changes in both the environment and human behavior. Dry conditions, which are particularly common in winter, cause water to evaporate more quickly from the respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. This results in the formation of smaller particles that remain suspended in the air for longer times and travel longer distances. Dry and cold air also interfere with the ability of the body to clear viruses from the upper respiratory tract. Lastly, cold weather causes people to gather indoors, often in rooms with suboptimal ventilation. In this environment, people are more likely to become infected due to exposure to higher concentrations of viral particles in the air. Recently, the CDC acknowledged that SARS-CoV-2 is not a typical “winter” respiratory virus. Data from four years of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have shown that COVID-19 has both winter and summer peaks. The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 throughout the year is likely due to the continual emergence of new variants and waning immunity from previous infections and vaccinations.  Reference https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/covid-19-can-surge-throughout-the-year.html