[COVID] Does Where You Live Affect Exposure?

People continue to take all sorts of steps to lower their risk of COVID-19. 

Hand-washing, social distancing, mask-wearing — and some people have decided to get the vaccine. 

But would you consider moving to reduce your risk? 

Well you should! 

Especially since a recent study identified that living in certain parts of the world could lower your risk of being exposed to COVID-19.

You know I believe in the healing power of sunlight. 

In addition to helping set your circadian rhythm, boost immunity, balance hormones, and defend against disease… a new study has found that it could be your best bet against COVID-19 as well. 

Researchers analyzed data on the spread of COVID-19 from 117 countries around the world. They wanted to identify the relationship between latitude and the spread of COVID-19. 

Latitude determines the amount of sunlight a location receives, as well as its temperature and humidity — not to mention how much vitamin D you’re getting. 

In addition, they considered factors such as air travel, economics, population age, and other factors that could impact COVID-19 numbers. 

What they found was that the closer you live to the equator, the lower your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Since the virus’s ability to spread is much slower. 

For every one-degree increase in a country’s latitude from the equator, there was a 4.3 percent increase in the number of coronavirus cases. 

So, for example, if one country was 620 miles closer to the equator than another country, it would have 33 percent fewer COVID-19 cases per million people. 

Many factors are at play here, such as the warmer air, lower humidity, more intense UV rays, and increases in vitamin D. 

In fact, lab dish studies have indicated that higher temperatures and humidity reduce survival of SARS-CoV-2. 

This isn’t a novel finding. Many respiratory viruses tend to decline during the summer months, and studies support the idea that respiratory viruses tend to linger in the air longer in cold environments with low humidity. 

You might not be able to move closer to the equator, but as summer gets into full swing, you can spend more time outdoors.  

No matter where you live, you can reap the benefits of sunshine and warm temperatures.  

Best of all? 

They’re free! 

Dr. Richard Gerhauser

P.S. Though things are looking better, we’re still not out of the clear when it comes to COVID-19. Go here to read about four key nutrients that research shows may help reduce the severity of the virus.