Environmental Determinants of COVID 19 Transmission Across a Wide Climatic Gradient in Chile

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Correa Araneda, Francisco, Ulloa Yáñez, Alfredo, Núñez, Daniela, Boyero González, María Luz, Tonin, Alan M., Cornejo, Aydeé, Urbina, Marcelo, Díaz, María E., Figueroa Muñoz, Guillermo, Esse, Carlos
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021
• Subjects: atmospheric pressure; Covid-19; relative humidity; social behavior; coronaviruses; decision making; tundra; disease transmission; Tundra
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10810/51739; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89213-4

Several studies have examined the transmission dynamics of the novel COVID-19 disease in different parts of the world. Some have reported relationships with various environmental variables, suggesting that spread of the disease is enhanced in colder and drier climates. However, evidence is still scarce and mostly limited to a few countries, particularly from Asia. We examined the potential role of multiple environmental variables in COVID-19 infection rate [measured as mean relative infection rate = (number of infected inhabitants per week / total population) × 100.000) from February 23 to August 16, 2020 across 360 cities of Chile. Chile has a large climatic gradient (≈ 40º of latitude, ≈ 4000 m of altitude and 5 climatic zones, from desert to tundra), but all cities share their social behaviour patterns and regulations. Our results indicated that COVID-19 transmission in Chile was mostly related to three main climatic factors (minimum temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity). Transmission was greater in colder and drier cities and when atmospheric pressure was lower. The results of this study support some previous findings about the main climatic determinants of COVID-19 transmission, which may be useful for decision-making and management of the disease. Funding was provided by the Initiation Fondecyt project 11170390 to F.C.A. D.N. received a CONICYT-PFCHA/ Doctorado Nacional/2019-21191862 scholarship. A.C. received a scholarship of the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT, Panama) and by the National Research System of Panama (SNI; doctoral student category).