Do solar cycles explain the emergence of COVID-19? Neutron count comparison between the solar minima of 2008–2009 and 2019–2020

Cosmic rays are believed to be mutagenic and can stimulate virus mutation through point mutations. Neutron count on Earth ground stations is a reliable proxy to quantify cosmic ray flux. A previous study reported that the maximum flux of cosmic rays in November 2019 could be related to the emergence of COVID-19 (late November to early December). Using the latest neutron count data, this study investigated if the data from 2019 to 2020 could specifically explain the emergence of pandemic (COVID-19). The results indicate that there is no significant difference between the previous two last solar minima datasets (2008–2009 and 2019–2020; n = 24, p = 0.60). This suggests that the solar minima of 2019–2020 did not experience an increase in cosmic rays and the emergence of COVID-19 could not be solely explained by cosmic ray flux caused by solar cycles (space weather change).