The Effect of Weather Conditions and Some Demographic Data on the Confirmed COVID-19 Cases: Analysis for 12 Statistical Regions of Turkey

COVID-19 has been affecting the world since the beginning of 2020. Although current evidence indicates that the virus spreads through contaminated objects or close contact with infected individuals, there is limited research on under what conditions the virus spreads faster. This study is conducted to reveal the relationship between COVID-19 cases and meteorological conditions and also some demographic characteristics. For this goal, real-feel air temperature, humidity, and wind speed; analyzed as meteorological parameters. The number of individuals over the age of 65, the education level of the individuals, and the population density are also considered as demographical parameters. The analyses are conducted based on Spearman’s correlation coefficients. The results proved that the positive correlation was calculated for real-feel air temperature, wind speed, population density, and the number of individuals over 65, whereas negatively correlated with humidity.

Hava Koşullarının ve Bazı Demografik Özelliklerin Doğrulanmış COVID-19 Vakaları Üzerine Etkisi: Türkiye’nin 12 İstatistik Bölgesi Analizi

COVID-19, 2020’nin başından beri tüm dünyayı etkilemektedir. Mevcut kanıtlar, virüsün kontamine nesneler veya enfekte kişilerle yakın temas yoluyla yayıldığını gösterse de, virüsün hangi koşullar altında daha hızlı yayıldığına dair sınırlı araştırma vardır. Bu çalışma, COVID-19 vakaları ile meteorolojik koşullar arasındaki ilişkiyi ve bazı demografik özellikleri ortaya çıkarmak için yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla, gerçek hava sıcaklığı, nem, rüzgâr hızı gibi meteorolojik parametreler ve nüfustaki 65 yaş üstü birey sayısı, bireylerin eğitim düzeyi, nüfus yoğunluğu gibi demografik özeliklerle COVID-19 vakaları arasındaki ilişki analiz edilmiştir. Analizler, Spearman’ın korelasyon katsayılarına göre yapılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, gerçek hissedilen hava sıcaklığı, rüzgar hızı, nüfus yoğunluğu ve 65 yaş üstü birey sayısı ile COVID-19 vakaları arasında pozitif korelasyon, hava nem ile negatif korelasyon tespit edilmiştir.

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