Trends in Viral Respiratory Infections During COVID-19 Pandemic, South Korea

Abstract

We compared weekly positivity rates of 8 respiratory viruses in South Korea during 2010–2019 and 2020. The overall mean positivity rate for these viruses decreased from 54.7% in 2010–2019 to 39.1% in 2020. Pandemic control measures might have reduced the incidence of many, but not all, viral respiratory infections.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• acute respiratory infections
• rhinoviruses
• bocaviruses
• adenoviruses
• influenza