Analysis of the effect of wind speed in increasing the COVID-19 cases in Jakarta

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 remains a public health problem around the world. It is possible the climate could affect the transmission of COVID-19. Wind is one of the climate factors besides temperature, humidity, and rainfall. This study aimed to describe spatial patterns and find the correlation of wind speed (maximum and average) with the pattern of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The design of this study was an ecological study based on time and place to integrate geographic information systems and tested using statistical techniques. The data used were wind speed and weekly COVID-19 cases from March to September 2020. These records were obtained from the special coronavirus website of Jakarta Provincial Health Office and the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. The data were analyzed by correlation, graphic/time trend, and spatial analysis. Results: The wind speed (maximum and mean) from March to September 2020 tended to fluctuate between 1.43 and 6.07 m/s. The correlation test results between the average wind speed and COVID-19 cases in Jakarta showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.542; p value = 0.002). Conclusions: The spatial overlay map of wind speed (maximum and mean) with COVID-19 cases showed that villages with high wind speeds, especially coastal areas, tended to show an earlier increase in cases. The higher wind speed allowed an increase in the distribution of the COVID-19 virus in the air in people who did not apply health protocols properly.