Question: So… sunlight kills the coronavirus?

Answer: A lot of health journalists have written about this topic already, so rather than taking up much air time here, I’ll refer you to this BBC report, which is fascinating! WHO also tackles sunlight and coronavirus in it’s myth-busters series (see Figure below).

WHO has guidelines about UV radiation and sun exposure too, and they largely warn against sunlight exposure. That said, we also know that Vitamin D is good for us, including for helping our immune system fight off viruses. It’s difficult to get enough Vitamin D from food alone, so we need some sun exposure. While we don’t have science about the role of Vitamin D as a treatment or prophylaxis for COVID-19, some doctors are recommending Vitamin D supplementation nonetheless. The reasons for this push include: a) Vitamin D is known to play a role in immune response to viral infections and b) Vitamin D supplementation is generally safe with few side effects (as long as folks don’t overdose on supplements), so the risks are minimal. With more of us sheltering in place and potentially spending less time outside, doctors want to be sure that we’re getting enough Vitamin D — deficiencies are bad for our bones and overall health. Speaking of spending time outside, you don’t need a study to tell you that sunlight and nature have powerful effects on our mood and mental health. But if you want a study, here are just a couple of journal articles on the matter. So, go on, get outside! You’ll feel better for it… even if it doesn’t kill the coronavirus.

Figure 1.