At DeSoto Caverns we know that you want to step into the great outdoors, get some needed vitamin D, and experience fun for the family! We have modified spaces and operations plans in order to create a more safe environment with less points of contact for our guests and team and more opportunities to enjoy the park. We believe that these changes will both improve the safety of our environment and the experiences of our guests. We would like to share some scientific studies, journals, and medical professionals who have shared news that may make you feel even safer about choosing to come to DeSoto Caverns and the Park during your visit. We believe these studies, combined with our efforts to create a safe clean space will make your visit more enjoyable. We look forward to hosting your next step into adventure where you can enjoy life and remove stress. The scientific networks and journals are sited at the bottom of this page for your further exploration.
For years, because of their unique humidity and environment, caverns have been utilized to heal those dealing with respiratory diseases. In fact, within the last century, Caverns, such as Mammoth Cave, have been used by hospitals as respiratory therapeutic locations. The center for Karst science in Slovenia has released recent reports documenting the positive effects of cavern environments on people’s physical and mental health and specifically their respiratory health. They encourage “speleotherapy” “which uses the unique atmospheric conditions of caves and mines to cure respiratory and other medical conditions. Pregnant women with asthma can use the therapy without endangering their unborn children.” “Supporters of the therapy tell us that eliminating the sources of irritation gives the body a chance to heal itself and improve the immune system. The therapy in the cave works without any sort of medical treatment.” (1)
Because of these historical therapies, international scientific and medical communities are currently testing the effect of the cavern environment on COVID-19. They are testing studies that show that both high temperatures and high humidity help significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19 by each Celsius degree and for each increase in relative humidity (2). Also, the Surgeon General has shared on his briefing that “the virus is dying at a much more rapid pace just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity.” (3) Lastly, a study published by Science Direct concluded that temperature variation and humidity are important factors affecting COVID-19 (4).
Our caverns are at a constant 60 degrees year-round with 100% humidity and our park is an outdoor park exposed to sunlight, heat, and humidity. These aspects of our naturally safer environment combined with our new processes to limit points of contact and incorporation of a safety and cleaning team allow our guests to more easily move around the park and our team to prioritize health and sanitation. We will continue to encourage and communicate social distancing. Our team members have been versed in safety and health protocol and are looking forward to serving you.
Helena Marko, “The Healing Cool of the Underworld” The Slovenia Times, August, 10, 2006, http://www.sloveniatimes.com/the-healing-cool-of-the-underworld
“Coronavirus dies more rapidly when exposed to sunlight, humidity: US govt study” The Week, April 24, 2020 https://www.theweek.in/news/health/2020/04/24/coronavirus-dies-more-rapidly-when-exposed-to-sunlight-humidity-us-govt-study.html
Ma, Yueling and Zhao, Yadong and Liu, Jiangtao and He, Xiaotao and Wang, Bo and Fu, Shihua and Yan, Jun and Niu, Jingping and Zhou, Ji and Luo, Bin “Effects of temperature variation and humidity on the death of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China” Science of The Total Environment https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720317393
Wang, Jingyuan and Tang, Ke and Feng, Kai and Lv, Weifeng, “High Temperature and High Humidity Reduce the Transmission of COVID-19” Social Science Research Network, March 9, 2020, revised April 6, 2020, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720317393
