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

Authors

  • Norezuan Abd Ghani Centre of Environmental Health & Safety Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Nazri Che Dom Centre of Environmental Health & Safety Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Rahmat Dapari Department of Community Health, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Samuel Yaw Agyemang-Badu College of Health -Yamfo, Department of Community Health, Ministry of Health, Sunyani-Yamfo, Ghana.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.sp2023no2.15

Keywords:

COVID-19, Environmental Factors, Temperature, Humidity, Malaysia

Abstract

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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Published

2023-09-15

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