Abstract
The transmission of coronaviruses can be affected by several factors, including the climate. Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the urgent need for rapid responses to contain the pandemic, it is essential to understand the role that weather conditions play in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
We evaluate the influence of meteorological factors on the incidence of COVID-19 during the first wave of the epidemic in Catalonia. We conducted a geographical analysis at the county level to evaluate the association between mean temperature, absolute humidity, solar radiation, and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19.
Next, we used a time-series design to assess the short-term effects of meteorological factors on the daily incidence of COVID-19.
We found a geographical association between meteorological factors and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19, from the end of March to June 2020, and to a lesser extent in the short term on the daily incidence during the first wave of the epidemic in Spain.
Our findings suggest that warm and wet climates may reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in Catalonia. However, policymakers must interpret with caution any COVID-19 risk predictions based on climate information alone.