New research links very dry and very humid indoor environments with worse COVID-19 outcomes. We know proper indoor ventilation is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Now, a study by MIT researchers finds that indoor relative humidity may also influence the transmission of the virus. Relati
An MIT study shows that keeping indoor humidity at a sweet spot may reduce the spread of COVID-19.We know proper indoor ventilation is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Now, a study byresearchers finds that indoor relative humidity may also influence the transmission of the virus.
In general, the researchers found that whenever a region experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths prevaccination, the estimated indoor relative humidity in that region, on average, was either lower than 40 percent or higher than 60 percent regardless of season. Nearly all regions in the study experienced fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths during periods when estimated indoor relative humidity was within a “sweet spot” between 40 and 60 percent.
Verheyen and Bourouiba examined whether COVID-19 is influenced instead by indoor — rather than outdoor — conditions, and, specifically, relative humidity. After all, they note that most societies spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors, where the majority of viral transmission has been shown to occur. What’s more, indoor conditions can be quite different from outdoor conditions as a result of climate control systems, such as heaters that significantly dry out indoor air.
For each day that COVID-19 data was available, they used meteorological data to calculate a country’s outdoor relative humidity. They then estimated the average indoor relative humidity, based on outdoor relative humidity and guidelines on temperature ranges for human comfort. For instance, guidelines report that humans are comfortable between 66 to 77 degreesindoors. They also assumed that on average, most populations have the means to heat indoor spaces to comfortable temperatures.
For countries in the tropics, relative humidity was about the same indoors and outdoors throughout the year, with a gradual rise indoors during the region’s summer season, when high outdoor humidity likely raised the indoor relative humidity over 60 percent. They found this rise mirrored the gradual increase in COVID-19 deaths in the tropics.
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