OREANDA-NEWS. The seasonal nature of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has not yet been confirmed. This was stated by the official representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Margaret Harris, at a briefing in Geneva.

Season does not seem to affect the transmission of the virus, she said. Harris drew attention to the rapid spread of infection in a number of countries located at different latitudes and passing through different seasons both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The WHO representative emphasized that the spread of coronavirus can be eased by large gatherings of people when social distance is not observed.

Harris also noted that the WHO is concerned that health systems could be put under additional strain if the seasonal outbreak of influenza and intense spread of the coronavirus will occur at the same time. The organization calls on the public to vaccinate against the flu, since this would help limit the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2.