The Relationship between Ambient Temperature and Positive Cases of COVID-۱۹; A Case Study in Abarkouh and Qeshm Cities of Iran

Introduction: The prevalence of infectious diseases varies depending on the type of micro-organism involved. Viral diseases can spread rapidly among communities, due to the specific characteristics of the virus. Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID ۱۹) is a new member of the coronavirus family that has caused rapid epidemics and affected the health and economy of the countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the ambient temperature and the positive cases of COVID ۱۹. Materials and Methods: In the present research, the relationship between the number of positive cases of COVID ۱۹ and the ambient temperature was investigated in Abarkouh and Qeshm cities during a ۴۹-day period. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS ۱۶ software using descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient tests. Results: The average ambient temperatures in the study period were ۱۹.۱۶ ± ۳.۴۵ and ۲۵.۷۹ ± ۱.۸۳ for Abarkouh and Qeshm cities, respectively. During this period, the positive cases in Abarkouh and Qeshm cities were ۳۸ and ۲۸ people, respectively. The results of correlation test revealed a negative correlation between the ambient temperature and the number of patients with COVID ۱۹ (the correlation rates were -۰.۱۰۷ and -۰.۰۸۳ with p-values of ۰.۴۶ and ۰.۵۷ for Abarkouh and Qeshm, respectively). Conclusion: Our results revealed that increase of air temperature was negatively correlated with the number of positive cases of COVID ۱۹. It can be concluded that atmospheric temperature affects the virus outbreak. So, the rate of virus spread is expected to  be reduced.

Keywords:

COVID ۱۹ , Particular Matter , Communicable Disease , Environment.