Investigating the seasonality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iran

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a new
coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization declared this infectious disease as a
global pandemic on 11 March 2020. Since it is necessary to understand the role of seasonality in the
spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in the formulation of public health interventions, in this study, the
effect of seasonal changes on the cases of infection and deaths of COVID-19 in Iran has been
investigated. The data collected from Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, including the
cases of infection and deaths of COVID-19 from 20 March 2020 to 20 March 2022. In data analysis,
One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. The results of One-way ANOVA showed that
there is no significant statistical difference between the averages of the cases of COVID-19 in
different months and seasons of the year. Also, there is no statistically significant difference between
the averages of COVID-19 deaths in different months and seasons of the year. Results of data analysis
data showed that the effect of seasonal changes on the spread of COVID-19 in Iran is not significant.
As a result, because COVID-19 is not seasonal in Iran, an increase in temperature and humidity with
the arrival of spring and summer months will not necessarily result in a reduction in the spread of the
COVID-19 epidemic if extensive public health interventions are not implemented. Therefore,
behavioral strategies such as wearing a face mask, washing hands, maintaining a social distance and
vaccination are suggested.