Temperature and precipitation associate with Covid-19 new daily cases: A correlation study between weather and Covid-19 pandemic in Oslo, Norway

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the correlation between weather and covid-19 pandemic in the capital city of Norway, Oslo. This study employed a secondary data analysis of covid-19 surveillance data from the Norwegian public health institute and weather data from the Norwegian Meteorological institute. The components of weather include minimum temperature (°C), maximum temperature (°C), temperature average (°C), normal temperature (°C), precipitation level (mm) and wind speed (m/s). Since normality was not fulfilled, a non-parametric correlation test was used for data analysis. Maximum temperature ( r = 0.347; p = .005), normal temperature( r = 0.293; p = .019), and precipitation level ( r = −0.285; p = .022) were significantly correlated with covid-19 pandemic. The finding serves as an input to a strategy making against the prevention of covid-19 as the country prepare to enter into a new weather season.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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  Temperature and precipitation are an important factor in determining the incidence rate of daily covid-19 cases in Oslo, Norway.

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  Maximum and normal temperature are positively associated with covid-19.Whereas Precipitation is negatively related.

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  One hypothesis for the association could be that rainfall (vs sunny weather) boosts the ‘stay-home’ rules while sunny weather make people prone to break ‘stay-home’ rules and expose people to the virus.

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  As Norway is preparing to enter into a new weather season, the finding serves as an input to a strategy making against the prevention of covid-19