During a recent radio interview with Fox News' Geraldo Rivera, Vice President Mike Pence expressed hope the country can move past the Wuhan coronavirus crisis by Memorial Day Weekend.
"If you look at the trends today, I think by Memorial Day Weekend we will largely have this coronavirus epidemic behind us...state and local officials will begin to reopen activities, you’re going to see states ahead here begin to do that,” Pence said.
During the daily White House briefing Thursday night, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisor Bill Bryan outlined new details from a study showing the virus dies in high heat and humidity, signaling an easier summer.
"If you look at the first three lines, when you see the word “surface,” we're talking about nonporous surfaces: door handles, stainless steel. And if you look at the, as the temperature increases, as the humidity increases, with no sun involved, you can see how drastically the half-life goes down on that virus. So the virus is dying at a much more rapid pace, just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity," Bryan said.
"If you look at the fourth line, you inject summer, the sunlight into that. You inject UV rays into that. The same effects on line two, as 70 to 35 degrees with 80 percent humidity on the surface. And look at line four, but now you inject the sun. The half-life goes from six hours to two minutes. That's how much of an impact UV rays has on the virus," he continued.
Recommended
Meanwhile, states across the country are starting to slowly open up certain sectors of their economies based on the three phase plan outlined by the White House last week. Georgia is an exception and Governor Brian Kemp has been berated by White House officials, including President Trump, for opening too soon.
Editor's Note: Want to support Townhall so we can keep telling the truth about China and the virus they unleashed on the world? Join Townhall VIP and use the promo code WUHAN to get 25% off VIP membership!