Thankfully, the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently being distributed — ones based on the original virus spike sequence — are effective in inducing immunity to the new strain.
The association between low humidity and increased disease from SARS-CoV-2 is real, important, and cannot be discounted by the presence of other variables.
It’s important for engineers to realize that the health of building occupants, both now and after COVID-19, is strongly affected by indoor air management.
Antibiotics, antiseptics, high-frequency light waves, and oxygen radicals have saved many lives. We must use them selectively and for limited time periods, being fully aware of the ability of microbes to fight back with resistance.
When the ambient humidity is low, fluid losses through skin and breathing quickly result in mild but impactful dehydration of our respiratory tract and skin.