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Sunshine and Covid-19
Yes, sunshine is a disinfectant. But it’s not magic!
A friend of mine learned something that appalled her.
Her son has recess at school. During recess, the kids go out and play in the sunshine. All good, right? I mean, what’s healthier than fresh air and sunshine, and we all need the boost to our immune systems right now.
The problem? The kids weren’t wearing masks or socially distancing.
My friend’s son has been taught to always wear his mask in public and to keep social distance. So he asked his teacher about this. And she told him not to worry, sunshine kills germs.
This appalled my friend. And it appalled me.
Of course, this gem of misinformation IS based on truth.
Sunshine DOES kill germs.
In fact, thanks to the natural disinfecting property of the sun, in places like India, people will put water into clear glass containers, give it a shake, and set it outside in the sun for SIX HOURS.
Because while the sunlight will get rid of pathogens effectively, it takes time to do so. And it won’t kill stuff that isn’t exposed to its UV rays.
So should kids be playing outside right now? Absolutely. But they still need to maintain social distance. Because sunshine is not a magic shield.
