Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 8: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said the winter months could bring a rise in the number of Coronavirus cases.
In a statement issued here, DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that there is a possibility of witnessing a further spike in cases.
“However, the number of severe cases and hospitalization will be considerably less than that of last winter,” Dr Nisar said.
He said that cold and drier conditions of winter are pretty favourable to viral stability. “Covid-19 tends to thrive in cooler conditions and survives outside better when it is cold,” he said.
Dr Hassan said low humidity during winter is the main driver of virus transmission. “In environments with low humidity, the virus stays suspended for much longer in the air which increases the risk of transmission.”
Quoting a study from the University of Sydney, he said for every 1 per cent drop in humidity, the number of Covid-19 cases could increase by 6 per cent.
Dr Nisar said winter is also the time when people tend to spend more time indoors when ventilation is less and social distancing is not so easily achieved.
General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said Jammu and Kashmir (JK) has a large proportion of the population who are unvaccinated. As of November 8, 2021, 45% of the population in JK has been fully vaccinated.
“This means we have around 55% of the population who are susceptible, and that is enough to sustain the virus,” he said.
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