Association between Temperature and Relative Humidity in Relation to COVID-19

Ahmar, A. S.; El Safty, M. A.; Al Zahrani, S.; Rusli, R.; Rahman, A.

The aim of this study is to determine the association between temperature and humidity in relation to COVID-19 above 3 degrees C. This was carried out in the cities of Bandung and Surabaya which have temperatures of about 22 degrees C to 31 degrees C. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and the Pearson and Spearman correlation for normally and abnormally distributed data. The results showed that there was no association between people under monitoring (ODP)/close contact, patients under surveillance (PDP)/suspect, and COVID-19 confirmed cases in relation to the temperature and humidity in Bandung and Surabaya. Furthermore, there was no relationship between temperature and humidity with ODP, PDP, and COVID-19 Confirmed cases in both cities, because they had a comfortably wet category (RH > 70%). This results are expected to provide information to the government that weather cases in Indonesia (temperatures around 26 degrees C-30 degrees C with humidity > 60%) do not affect the spread of COVID-19. In addition, it is expected that further studies would be carried out on other factors that influence the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, for example, how the level of alternating flow in and/ or out of the population into an area.