The outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan in late spring 2021: combinations of specific weather conditions and related factors

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of weather conditions on the daily incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic in late spring 2021 in Taiwan, which is unlike the weather conditions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Meteorological parameters such as maximum daily temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were included. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between weather and daily domestic COVID-19 cases. The maximum daily temperature had a positively significant correlation with daily new COVID-19 cases within a 14-day lag period, while the relative humidity and wind speed has a fairly high correlation with the number of daily cases within a 13- and 14-day lag, respectively. In addition, the weather characteristics during this period were an increasingly high temperature, with steady high relative humidity and slightly decreasing wind speed. Our study revealed the weather conditions at the time of the domestic outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan in May 2021 and the possible association between weather factors and the COVID-19 pandemic. Further large-scale analysis of weather factors is essential for understanding the impact of weather on the spread of infectious diseases.

Do Weather Conditions Still Have an Impact on the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Observation of the Mid-2022 COVID-19 Peak in Taiwan

“…Although the prevailing literature generally posits that higher temperatures have a detrimental effect on COVID-19 transmission, leading to fewer confirmed cases [33][34][35], our findings present a different perspective. Our study identified a significant positive correlation between Tmax and confirmed COVID-19 cases across Taiwan, aligning with prior findings [7,8,15,22,36]. Despite evidence that SARS-CoV-2 loses viability at higher temperatures [37], the increase in cases suggests an impactful role of temperature in COVID-19 spread.…”

“…• Wind speed (WS): Measured in meters per second (m/s), indicating the speed of wind observed at the stations. WS was found to have a positive correlation with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in prior studies [22,25,26].…”

“…Given the dynamic relationship among the environment, viruses, and populations, our study divided Taiwan into six regions to closely examine these dynamics. A prior study [22] identified a significant weather-related impact on COVID-19 in Taiwan, particularly in areas close to meteorological stations, which are close to the outbreaks of COVID-19. Our current research further explores this connection across these regions, considering the varying incubation periods of different COVID-19 variants [31] and the potential lag effects of weather, with data analysis extending 14 days prior to case confirmation.…”

“…Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of local weather conditions on the daily incidence of COVID-19 in six regions of Taiwan. Additionally, specific weather conditions, such as the unease environmental condition factor (UECF), the Fire-Qi Period, and the cyclic climatic variations affecting the spread of infectious diseases proposed by a prior study [22], were examined.…”

Correlation between COVID-19 and weather variables: A meta-analysis

“… Mofijur M et al [ 75 ] 2020 Bangladesh 1 Ma y 2020 to 31 Ma y 2020 31 Spearman rank correlation 8 Temperature (max, min, ave), wind speed, rainfall, relative humidity Minimum temperature and average The temperature had a significant relationship with new COVID-19 cases. Chang SA et al [ 76 ] 2021 Taiwan May 1–May 28, 2021 28 Spearman rank correlation 6 Maximum temperature, wind speed, relative humidity Maximum daily temperature significantly Positively correlated with daily new COVID-19 cases. Bilal et al [ 77 ] 2021 USA March 2, 2020, to September 17, 2020, 200 Spearman, Kendal rank correlation 7 Maximum temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, daily new cases, daily new deaths of COVID-19 Temperature, humidity, environmental quality index, and rainfall are significant Variables related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA's top 10 most affected states.…”