Association between Meteorological Parameters and SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Trends in Major Divisions of Bangladesh

Masum, M. H.; Pal, S. K.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the current pandemic situation worldwide. Studies based on different factors affecting the pandemic are useful in order to find effective measures against COVID-19. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between meteorological parameters and COVID-19 positive cases, along with a number of fatalities. In this study, the number of identified COVID-19 cases along with death figures, daily records of rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were collected from April and May 2020 for eight major divisions in Bangladesh. Significant positive association (r = 0.24 to 0.58) between relative humidity and COVID-19 cases across the cities was found in this study, while for temperature both positive and negative associations (r = -0.23 to 0.72) were observed. Similarly, a positive association is found between humidity ((r = -0.012 to 0.384)) and numbers of COVID-19 death cases. Rainfall and wind speed exhibit positive correlations with COVID-19 positive cases and numbers of death cases. The findings of the study surely help the policymaker for further decision making, conducting new study and initiate the mitigation measures against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Scientific Research is the property of Rajshahi University, Faculty of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)