Are there significant correlations between climate factors and the spread of COVID-19 for less densely populated and less polluted regions?

Abstract

This study analyzes the correlation between the spread of COVID-19 and meteorological variables (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation) in urban-rural cities located in southeastern Brazil. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used for the statistical analysis. Results show that air temperature and wind speed were positively correlated with COVID-19 cases, while air relative humidity showed negative correlation. As seen in several recent studies, climate factors and the spread of COVID-19 seem to be related. Our study corroborates this hypothesis for less densely populated and less polluted regions. We hope that our findings help worldwide scientific efforts towards understanding this disease and how it spreads in different regions. Highlights Climate and COVID-19’s spread were also correlated in less-densely populated regions. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are strongly correlated with cases of covid-19. One hypothesis for the strong association could be the high minimum temperatures in the subtropical region. Wind speed is also positively correlated with COVID-19, while air humidity is negatively related. Mitigation policies against the spread of COVID-19 should be based on local climate profiles.