Environmental quality, climate indicators, and COVID-19 pandemic: insights from top 10 most affected states of the USA

In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are working with health professionals to inform governments on how to formulate health strategies. In this study, we examine the correlation between environmental and climate indicators and COVID-19 outbreak in the top 10 most affected states of the USA. In doing so, PM(2.5), temperature, humidity, environmental quality index, and rainfall are included as crucial meteorological and environmental factors. Kendall and Spearman rank correlation coefficients, quantile regression, and log-linear negative binominal analysis are employed as an estimation strategy. The empirical estimates conclude that temperature, humidity, environmental quality index, PM(2.5), and rainfall are significant factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the top 10 most affected states of the USA. The empirical findings of the current study would serve as key policy input to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the USA.