Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 5, 2020

Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Daily New Cases and New Deaths of COVID-19 in 166 Countries

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  • Wu et al. apply a statistical model to investigate temperature and relative humidity as predictors of new COVID-19 cases and deaths in 166 countries (excluding China) through March 27, 2020.  They control for wind speed, median age of the national population, Global Health Security Index, Human Development Index, and population density as potential confounders.   
  • Temperature and relative humidity were both inversely associated with new cases and deaths. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic may be partially suppressed as temperature and humidity increase. However, during the study period, settings where temperatures were rising overlapped with settings where epidemics were waning, either naturally or in response to public health measures. 

Wu et al. (April 28, 2020). Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Daily New Cases and New Deaths of COVID-19 in 166 Countries. The Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139051