COVID-19 mitigation efforts were associated with a dramatic decrease in rates of common respiratory viral infections, according to a study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Researchers compared respiratory viral infections other than SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 to corresponding periods in the previous 5 years. Findings were based on results of comprehensive respiratory panel polymerase chain-reaction (CRP-PCR) tests (BioFire Diagnostics) performed at Boston Medical Center from January 1, 2015 to November 25, 2020. For 2020, period 1 included 10 weeks before March 10 and period 2 included weeks 12 through 46. The number of CRP-PCR tests was higher in 2020 versus any of the previous 5 years (period 1: 3,397 tests in 2020; range from 1,388 to 2,719 in 2015 to 2019; period 2: 6,976 tests in 2020; range from 2,285 to 4,977 in 2015 to 2019). The cumulative number of detected viruses per week in period 2 was significantly lower in 2020 (down 80%) for all the respiratory viruses (influenza, parainfluenza viruses, metapneumoviruses, adenovirus, coronaviruses, enteroviruses, and respiratory syncytial viruses) compared with the previous 5 years. In 2020 period 2, the odds of detecting a respiratory virus per test were significantly lower after adjusting for the level of medical care and patient age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.16). The phased “reopening” in Boston on July 20, 2020, coincided with the increase in cumulative virus detection around week 30.
