Turns out that’s one of three reasons scientists expect to see the spread of COVID-19 to slow down the summer.

Probably the most important one is crowding.

So in the winter people are inside more.

Since they are inside more, they are closer.

When people are outside, higher temperatures break down the virus on surfaces and in the air faster so it becomes less infectious.

Same with higher humidity.

The virus can’t survive as long when it is humid.

Scientists took that information about the way heat affects our behavior and the virus and tracked the spread of COVID-19 all around the globe.

They found the transmission was fastest in the areas that were cool and dry, up to about 62 degrees.

And then they mapped out their predictions.

By rate summer, Sacramento county could see just under two people infected by every new case of the virus, down from 2.3 right now.

That means it is still spreading, just not as fast.

The numbers are much more dramatic in areas with more extreme weather, like Phoenix, Arizona, weather rate of transmission could drop 40% this summer.

But two points to keep in mind.

In every map, the virus bounces back in the fall.

And while the weather can slow the virus, it won't stop it.

It would have to be unbearably hot for covid to be wiped out.

It would have to be over 130 or 160 degrees or something like that to really ... to really get rid of it.

But the higher the temperature, the less it survives.

And that means the bottom line is that we can't depend on the weather to keep us safe from COVID-19.

I think I know the answer to this question, but does that mean we can let down our guard?

No, we can't let down our guard.

It is really important to maintain the social distancing.

That is the number one thing we can do during this time when we don't have a vaccine.

And Dr. Blumberg estimates that right now about 4 percent of us have been infected with COVID-19 here in California.

So that means the vast majority of us are still susceptible.

And Lisa and Gulstan, that means we still need to be careful.

Yes, very good reminder and great explanation, alright Edie, thank you so much.