YES, ABOVE 56 °C FOR 30 MIN.
Hot water above 56 °C / 133 °F does in fact kill the coronavirus if exposed to it long enough, but only before it enters your body (on fabric, objects etc).
According to Tang Qin, a researcher at the Popular Science Department of the China Medical Association: “The novel coronavirus can be killed in water at 56 °C or higher after 30 minutes.”
Do not attempt “healing” yourself once infected by drinking extremely hot or boiling water, as it will not achieve anything but burn you, and for the same reason, do not wash your hands with hot water either (use soap instead).
The novel coronavirus infects the respiratory tract rather than the digestive tract, so drinking hot water not only is useless but also hurts the oesophagus.
Outside the body, “to actively kill the virus you need temperatures of around 60 degrees [Celsius]”, says Professor Bloomfield.
Washing bed linen or towels at 60 °C (140 °F) is a good idea, as this can kill any viruses in the fabric. But it’s not a good option for washing your skin.
60 °C is far hotter than any bath, so avoid bathing / showering yourself with water hotter than you would normally. For body cleaning purpose just use soap and a good rub.
Source: Tang Qin, a researcher at the Popular Science Department of the China Medical Association; Professor Sally Bloomfield, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; additional research
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