How does atmospheric circulation affect the diffusion of Covid-19 in polluted cities?

Abstract. This paper endeavors to explain how wind speed can affect the diffusion of COVID-19. The statistical analysis, based on data from Italy, suggests that high wind speed can reduce air pollution commingled with viral agents and as a consequence reduce infected individuals of COVID-19; moreover, results reveal that polluted cities with low wind speed have a greater number of infected individuals and total deaths also because of bad air quality. This study suggests the important role of atmospheric pollution and atmospheric circulation in the transmission dynamics of the novel Coronavirus to support appropriate environmental policy to reduce concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, improving air quality and human health.Keywords. COVID-19, Air pollution, Environmental pollution, Wind speed, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Public health, Air quality, Environmental science.JEL. D81, D91, E71, G01, G41, H11, I18, Z18