Influenza's plummeting during the COVID-19 pandemic: The roles of mask-wearing, mobility change, and SARS-CoV-2 interference.

ABSTRACT: Seasonal influenza activity typically peaks in the winter months but plummeted globally during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Unraveling lessons from influenza's unprecedented low profile is critical in informing preparedness for incoming influenza seasons. Here, we explored a country-specific inference model to estimate the effects of mask-wearing, mobility changes (international and domestic), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) interference in China, England, and the United States. We found that a one-week increase in mask-wearing intervention had a percent reduction of 11.3%-35.2% in influenza activity in these areas. The one-week mobility mitigation had smaller effects for the international (1.7%-6.5%) and the domestic community

SUBMITTER: Han S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8808434 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature