Sunlight linked with lower Covid-19 deaths, study suggests

Exposure to sunlight prompts skin to release nitric oxide that could reduce virus ability to replicate, say researchers

(Stephanie Reis)

Increased exposure to sunlight has been linked to a lower risk of dying from Covid-19, an observational study has suggested.

People living in sunnier areas, with the highest level of exposure to UVA rays, are associated with fewer deaths from coronavirus compared with those with lower levels, experts from the University of Edinburgh said.

The study compared all recorded deaths from Covid-19 in the continental US from January to April 2020 with UV levels for 2,474 US counties for the same time period.