The majority of Australians undoubtedly are doing an axcellent job flattening the coronavirus curve, however, according to Hong Kong researchers, COVID-19’s reaction to different temperatures warrants extra precaution with the most difficult period yet, just weeks away.

This particular strain of corona virus has the scientific community constantly baffled while conducting endless tests to decipher its behaviour.

John Nicholls, a Professor of Pathology at Hong Kong University and his team have confirmed “it spreads much quicker, lives longer and is more virulent in colder temperatures”.

“So for the southern states of Australia, as you come to the winter months, if you haven’t been able to yet rid of the virus in the environment,” he said, “it could survive for a longer period rather than in places like the northern hemisphere or northern Australia.”

ALSO READ: Global coronavirus death toll claims 160,000 souls

With Australian winter officially beginning on 1 June, there are fears the lift of our lockdown measures around the end of May could spark another spike.

“Seeing how both Hong Kong and Australia have been able to flatten ‘sombrero’ so that it’s more like a pancake or a pikelet, the challenge will be for the southern states,” Nicholls said, stressing that that if restrictions are eased, “far more attention which needs to be given to things like cleaning of the handrails or bannisters, lift buttons…just keeping the environmental contamination very low.”

As Nicholls told 7news.com.au social distancing and temperature checks will continue for between six months and two years, striking a balance between keeping the number of infections down and keeping the economy running.

ALSO READ: Australia flattens the curve but the fight is far from over