Increased Exposure To Sunlight May Lower COVID-19 Deaths, New Study

New Delhi: Ever since the novel coronavirus broke out last year, we have been hearing about heat emanating from the sun’s rays as being effective in killing the deadly virus.  The reports have been refuted and affirmed time and again.

Once again, researchers are saying that sunnier areas are associated with fewer deaths from the deadly coronavirus. A new study says that increased exposure to the sun’s rays, specifically UVA, can be a simple public health intervention to prevent mortality rates from COVID-19.

Ultraviolet UVA rays make up 95 per cent of the Sun’s UV light and can penetrate more deeply into the skin. People living in areas with the highest level of exposure to UVA rays had a lower risk of death from Covid-19 compared to those with lower levels, revealed the study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, reported News18.

The analysis was repeated in England and Italy with the same results. However, the reduction in death risk could not be explained by higher levels of vitamin D, said researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. But nitric oxide released by the skin due to sunlight exposure could be a reason as this can likely reduce the ability of SARS CoV2, the virus causing Covid-19, to replicate, as has been found in some lab studies, they noted.

Due to the observational nature of the study, it is not possible to establish cause and effect. However, it may lead to interventions that could be tested as potential treatments, the researchers said