Correlation between COVID-19 Infection Rate and Atmospheric Environmental Factors in Seoul Metropolitan City, South Korea

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to statistically analyze whether the change in the COVID-19 virus infection rate is affected by atmospheric environmental factors in Seoul metropolitan city of South Korea. The research period of this study is from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. The correlation relationship between the COVID-19 virus infection rate and atmospheric environmental factors such as PM10, PM2.5, temperature, and humidity was analyzed by multiple regression analysis. In the correlation between PM10 and PM2.5 and the COVID-19 virus infection rate, correlation coefficient between PM10 and infection rate was r = 0.114(p = 0.019), showing a positive correlation. The correlation coefficient between PM2.5 and infection rate was r = 0.147(p = 0.002), which indicates a higher positive correlation than PM10. In the correlation between thermal factors and infection rate, the correlation coefficients between temperature and infection rate and between relative humidity and infection rate were r= -0.527(p = 0.000) and r= -0.91(p = 0.060), respectively. Unlike PM10 and PM2.5, temperature and relative humidity showed a negative correlation with the infection rate. Except for relative humidity, PM10, PM2.5 and temperature had statistically significant correlations with the infection rate (p < 0.05). Based on the results obtained from this study, it is recommended to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible in weather with high PM10 and PM2.5 and low temperature and humidity.