There is widespread debate on the drivers of heterogeneity of adverse COVID-19 pandemic outcomes and, more specifically, on the role played by context-specific factors. We contribute to this literature by testing the role of environmental factors as measured by environmentally protected areas....

A research hypothesis on the nexus between air pollution and adverse COVID-19 outcomes postulates that particulate matter (PM) can be a carrier of the virus. Preliminary evidence through analysis of small PM samples has shown that this is the case but the strength of the transmission channel...