Abstract
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began devastating communities and economies globally. Three years later, much is still unknown regarding what substances can interact with SARS-CoV-2 and influence its spread. With well-studied viruses, it is known that environmental conditions can influence the spread and severity of outbreaks, prompting investigation of the potential relationship between environmental conditions and COVID- 19. Air pollution has become a major factor in determining health outcomes, especially for marginalized communities, as the concentrations of various pollutants continue to reach higher levels. The consequence(s) of exposure to different types of air pollution includes the development of respiratory diseases, a weakened immune system, and decreased ability to fight off infections. The relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and air pollution, such as ground-level ozone, and other environmental variables such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed, has been minimally studied. Moreover, the published literature has inconsistent results. Ground-level ozone is unlike other forms of air pollution because a warming climate enhances the production of O3, raising the urgency of studying a potential relationship. The goal of this data-driven ecological studyis to examine the relationship between ground-level ozone, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and COVID-19 incidence.