Reduced spread of influenza and other respiratory viral infections during the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Puerto Rico.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on seasonal respiratory viruses is unknown in sub-tropical climates.Methods
We compared weekly testing and test-positivity of respiratory infections in the 2019-2020 respiratory season to the 2012-2018 seasons in southern Puerto Rico using Wilcoxon signed rank tests.Results
Compared to the average for the 2012-2018 seasons, test-positivity was significantly lower for Influenza A (p<0.001) & B (p<0.001), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (p<0.01), respiratory adenovirus (AdV) (p<0.05), and other respiratory viruses (p<0.001) following March 2020 COVID-19 stay at home orders.Conclusions
Mitigation measures and behavioral social distancing choices may have reduced respiratory viral spread in southern Puerto Rico.
SUBMITTER: Quandelacy TM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9045654 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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