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. 2020 Aug;26(8):1933-1935.
doi: 10.3201/eid2608.201229. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Decreased Influenza Incidence under COVID-19 Control Measures, Singapore

Roy Jiunn Jye Soo, Calvin J Chiew, Stefan Ma, Rachael Pung, Vernon Lee

Decreased Influenza Incidence under COVID-19 Control Measures, Singapore

Roy Jiunn Jye Soo et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

We compared indicators of influenza activity in 2020 before and after public health measures were taken to reduce coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the corresponding indicators from 3 preceding years. Influenza activity declined substantially, suggesting that the measures taken for COVID-19 were effective in reducing spread of other viral respiratory diseases.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Singapore; coronavirus disease; infectious disease; preventive medicine; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Indicators of influenza activity during the 2019–20 season (red line) compared with average of the preceding 3 years (green line), Singapore. A) Average number of visits per day to government primary care clinics for influenza-like illnesses, 2016–2020. B) Samples from patients with influenza-like illness tested per week, 2016–2020. C) Influenza positivity, 2016–2020. D) Estimated daily numbers of influenza cases, 2016–2020.
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