Influences of climatic and non-climatic factors on COVID-19 outbreak: A review of existing literature

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant global public health issue resulting from SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). COVID-19 outbreak approaches an unprecedented challenge for human health, the economy, and societies. The transmission of the COVID-19 is influenced by many factors, including climatic, environmental, socio-economic, and demographic. This study aimed to investigate the influences of climatic and sociodemographic determinants on COVID-19 transmission. The climatic variables considered herein were air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, air pollution, and cumulative precipitation. Sociodemographic variables included population density, socio-economic conditions, misinformation, and personal hygiene practices towards the pandemic. Review results indicated that lower temperatures and greater incidence of COVID-19 are reported in a more significant number of studies. Another factor linked to COVID-19 occurrence was the humidity. However, the results were varied; some research reported positive, and others reported negative relationships. In addition, poor air quality, along with strong winds, makes the virus more vulnerable to spreading, leading to a spike in COVID-19 cases. PM2.5, O3, and NO2 also showed a strong correlation with the recent epidemic. The findings on rainfall were inconsistent between studies. Among the non-climatic factors, population density, education, and income were credited as potential determinants for the coronavirus outbreak. Climatic and sociodemographic factors showed a significant correlation on the COVID-19 outbreak. Thus, our review emphasizes the critical importance of considering climatic and non-climatic factors while developing intervention measures. This study's core findings will support the decision-makers in identifying climatic and socio-economic elements that influence the risks of future pandemics.

Effects of the built environment and human factors on the spread of COVID-19: A systematic literature review

“…They have reviewed the effects of factors such as urban greenery, temperature, humidity, wind, air and water quality, and indoor environmental conditions on the spread of COVID-19 ( Wu, 2021 ; Teller, 2021 ; Valsamatzi-Panagiotou and Penchovsky, 2022 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ; Weaver et al, 2022 ). Some of them also have considered some urban factors such as urban morphology, density, housing, health facilities, urban services, and transportation on the spread of COVID-19 ( Hussein, 2022 ; Azuma et al, 2020 ; Alam and Sultana, 2021 ). Also, the effect of social variables such as ethnicity, poverty, health insurance, occupation, and socio-economic factors on the transmission of COVID-19 is reviewed in some studies ( Brakefield et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Making such a distinction is needed as patterns and dynamics of the spread of the virus could be different across different scales. Third, while Alam and Sultana (2021) , Teller (2021) , and Weaver et al (2022) have addressed different dimensions, their results are based on a few papers. Furthermore, they have not followed systematic approaches in their analyses.…”

Impact of urbanisation and environmental factors on spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases during the early phase of epidemic in Singapore

“…Different from prior work, the study further explored potential correlations between incidences of case types within sub-zones. This study also assessed the combined effect of climatic and population factors on COVID-19 incidence within each sub-zone, while previous work generally assessed the sole influence of population or climatic factors 46 . This study supports literature performed in cities with similar population and urbanisation characteristics (e.g.…”

Vulnerabilities of older adults and mitigation measures to address COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh: A review

“…Visiting the sick is also considered a good deed in Bangladeshi culture. Long-time gossiping with friends to pass the time is a common trait of Bangladeshi culture ( Alam & Sultana, 2021 ). It is reported that, during the epidemic, people are moving outside without any need in the locked downed areas ( Bdnews24, 2020 ).…”