Humidity is a consistent climatic factor contributing to SARS-CoV-2 transmission

Abstract

There is growing evidence that climatic factors could influence the evolution of the

current COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we build on this evidence base, focusing on the

southern hemisphere summer and autumn period. The relationship between climatic

factors and COVID-19 cases in New South Wales, Australia was investigated during

both the exponential and declining phases of the epidemic in 2020, and in different regions. Increased relative humidity was associated with decreased cases in both

epidemic phases, and a consistent negative relationship was found between relative

humidity and cases. Overall, a decrease in relative humidity of 1% was associated

with an increase in cases of 7–8%. Overall, we found no relationship with between

cases and temperature, rainfall or wind speed. Information generated in this study

confirms humidity as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

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