Temperature and precipitation associate with Covid-19 new daily cases: A correlation study between weather and Covid-19 pandemic in Oslo, Norway

Mesay Moges Menebo

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139659

Mesay Moges Menebo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139659

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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the correlation between weather and covid-19 pandemic in the capital city of Norway, Oslo. This study employed a secondary data analysis of covid-19 surveillance data from the Norwegian public health institute and weather data from the Norwegian Meteorological institute. The components of weather include minimum temperature (°C), maximum temperature (°C), temperature average (°C), normal temperature (°C), precipitation level (mm) and wind speed (m/s). Since normality was not fulfilled, a non-parametric correlation test was used for data analysis. Maximum temperature (r = 0.347; p = .005), normal temperature(r = 0.293; p = .019), and precipitation level (r = −0.285; p = .022) were significantly correlated with covid-19 pandemic. The finding might serve as an input to a strategy making in the prevention of covid-19 as the country prepare to enter into a new weather season.

Highlights

Maximum and normal temperature are positively associated with covid-19
This study aims to analyze the correlation between weather and covid-19 pandemic in the capital city of Norway, Oslo
The Chinese government announced a new type of pneumonia, coronavirus, with an obscured etiology on January 7, 2020 (WHO, 2020a)

Summary

Introduction

The Chinese government announced a new type of pneumonia, coronavirus (covid-19), with an obscured etiology on January 7, 2020 (WHO, 2020a). The rapid spread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the declaration of a global pandemic barely three months after its emergence. The infection included symptomatic or asymptomatic manifestations where 80% of infections are mild (no pneumonia manifestations) or asymptomatic(WHO, 2020b). Most people infected experience mild to moderate respiratory illness such as fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death (Cheng et al, 2020). Fever (b39.1 °C) was the most frequent symptom, and Cough is the second most common symptom observed (Gu et al, 2020). Other symptoms reported include headache, rhinorrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms, sore throat, and fatigue (Michelen et al, 2020)

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