Title: Investigating of climate factors associated with the number of COVID-19 incidences in Saudi Arabia

Authors: Abdulaziz S. Alkabaa

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80204, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This study investigates the possible association between the climate variables of daily average temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (mph), air pressure (mmHg), and the number of COVID-19 incidents in five main cities in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, other non-climate factors that might influence the number of COVID-19 incidents, such as region, day type, and conducted number of COVID-19 tests (massive testing levels), are included in the model. A negative binomial regression model is applied to study the association between the climate and non-climate factors affecting COVID-19 cases for 75 days with an average temperature range of (18-36)°C. Results show significant findings that the only climate factor affecting the COVID-19 numbers is the average daily temperature. The regression model shows a significant positive association between average daily temperature and the COVID-19 incidents by increasing 6.1% in the number of COVID-19 cases for each extra 1°C average temperature increase.

Keywords: COVID-19 spread in warm weather; COVID-19 and climate; negative binomial regression; data mining; indoor climate and COVID-19; high temperature; Saudi weather; massive tests and spread of COVID-19; humidity effect on COVID-19; COVID-19 cases predictions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2021.122311

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2021 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.195 - 212

Received: 18 Jun 2021
Accepted: 08 Sep 2021
Published online: 19 Apr 2022 *