EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND COVID-19 TRANSMISSION IN SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
Received 2023-07-07; Accepted 2023-08-17; Published 2023-09-15
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.sp2023no2.15Keywords:
COVID-19, Environmental Factors, Temperature, Humidity, MalaysiaAbstract
The transmission and severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID -19) are related to environmental factors such
as temperature and humidity. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between daily reported COVID
-19 cases and environmental variables. In this study, we used data from October 2020 to October 2021. We used a
Generalised Additive Model (GAM) to examine the short-term relationship between COVID -19 and environmental
variables in Selangor, Malaysia, using daily meteorological components and daily confirmed COVID -19 cases. We
discovered a significant inverse relationship between daily confirmed COVID -19 cases and mean temperature
(Tave), relative humidity, wind speed, rainfall, and wind effect index (K), while temperature-humidity index (THI)
was significantly associated with an increase in daily confirmed COVID -19 cases. The results of this study provide
important insights into the impact that environmental factors may have on the transmission of COVID -19 and
should be considered in the development of public health interventions in Selangor, Malaysia.
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