Impact of social distancing on the spread of common respiratory viruses during the coronavirus disease outbreak

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, social distancing was effective in controlling disease spread across South Korea. The impact of national social distancing on the spread of common respiratory virus infections has rarely been investigated. We evaluated the weekly proportion of negative respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results and weekly positive rates of each respiratory virus during the social distancing period (10th–41st weeks of 2020) and the corresponding period in different years, utilizing the national respiratory virus surveillance dataset reported by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The proportions of negative respiratory virus PCR test results increased up to 87.8% and 86.1% during level 3 and level 2 of the social distancing period, respectively. The higher the level of social distancing, the higher the proportion of negative respiratory virus PCR test results. During the social distancing period, the mean weekly positive rates for parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, human coronavirus, and human metapneumovirus were significantly lower than those during the same period in 2015–2019 (0.1% vs. 9.3%, P <0.001; 0.1% vs. 7.2%, P <0.001; 0.4% vs. 2.3%, P <0.001; and 0.2% vs. 5.3%, P <0.001, respectively). The mean positive rate for rhinovirus/enterovirus during level 3 social distancing was lower than that in the same period in 2015–2019 (8.5% vs. 19.0%, P <0.001), but the rate during level 1 social distancing was higher than that in the same period in 2015–2019 (38.3% vs. 19.4%, P <0.001). The national application of social distancing reduced the spread of common respiratory virus infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Circulation of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brescia, Italy: A Retrospective Study

“…According to other studies [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 ], our results show that the circulation of respiratory viruses was disrupted during the pandemic, even if the magnitude of this effect was different between the viruses analyzed.…”

“…These preventive strategies, in particular physical distancing and the use of masks, may have contributed to reducing the circulation of other respiratory viruses besides SARS-CoV-2 [ 12 , 13 ]. Different studies show that social restrictions had an impact on the spread of both seasonal influenza [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] and other respiratory viruses [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Rhinovirus Incidence Rates Indicate We Are Tired of Non-pharmacological Interventions Against Coronavirus Disease 2019

“…Recently, several researchers reported that the NPIs for COVID-19 suppressed the outbreak of common respiratory virus infections as well as that of COVID-19. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 The outbreaks of common respiratory virus infections are not directly affected by the COVID-19 vaccination rate or the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants; hence, the data of common respiratory virus infection outbreaks help determine the effect of NPIs without being affected by other factors related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Among the common respiratory viruses, non-enveloped viruses such as rhinovirus (RV), human bocavirus (BOV), and adenovirus (ADV) are continuously detected despite the implementation of NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, because they are more resistant to environmental challenges or alcohol-based disinfectants than enveloped viruses and can be easily transmitted through not only respiratory droplets but also contacts with unwashed hands.…”

“…Among the common respiratory viruses, non-enveloped viruses such as rhinovirus (RV), human bocavirus (BOV), and adenovirus (ADV) are continuously detected despite the implementation of NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, because they are more resistant to environmental challenges or alcohol-based disinfectants than enveloped viruses and can be easily transmitted through not only respiratory droplets but also contacts with unwashed hands. 9 10 14 In particular, the incidence of RV infection decreased when the NPIs were strongly implemented but suddenly increased when the implementation of NPIs was relaxed. 14 15 16 Because of such distinct inverse relationship between the incidence of RV and intensity of NPI implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of RV was suggested as an indicator of the effect of NPIs.…”

“… 9 10 14 In particular, the incidence of RV infection decreased when the NPIs were strongly implemented but suddenly increased when the implementation of NPIs was relaxed. 14 15 16 Because of such distinct inverse relationship between the incidence of RV and intensity of NPI implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of RV was suggested as an indicator of the effect of NPIs. 15 Therefore, we aimed to investigate the changes in the effect of NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing the surveillance data of common respiratory viruses, especially RV, BOV, and ADV.…”