AUTHOR=Zeng Zhiqi , Guan Wenda , Liu Yong , Lin Zhengshi , Liang Wenhua , Liang Jingyi , Chen Bingqian , Wu Tong , Wang Yutao , Yang Chunguang , Wu Qiubao , Mai Zhitong , Zhou Jinchao , Zhou Junhou , Wang Zhoulang , Lin Zhijie , Hu Chaohui , Wu Chunqiu , Zhu Pengyuan , Chen Canxiong , Zhong Nanshan , Lau Eric H. Y. , Hon Chitin , Liang Yaoming , Yang Zifeng , He Jianxing TITLE=Different Circulation Pattern of Multiple Respiratory Viruses in Southern China During the COVID-19 Pandemic JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.801946 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.801946 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

China implemented stringent non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in spring 2020, which has effectively suppressed SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we utilized data from routine respiratory virus testing requests from physicians and examined circulation of 11 other respiratory viruses in Southern China, from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. A total of 58,169 throat swabs from patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) were collected and tested. We found that while the overall activity of respiratory viruses was lower during the period with stringent NPIs, virus activity rebounded shortly after the NPIs were relaxed and social activities resumed. Only influenza was effectively suppressed with very low circulation which extended to the end of 2020. Circulation of other respiratory viruses in the community was maintained even during the period of stringent interventions, especially for rhinovirus. Our study shows that NPIs against COVID-19 have different impacts on respiratory viruses.