Effects of COVID-19 Prevention Measures on Other Common Infections, Taiwan

Abstract

To determine whether policies to limit transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hinder spread of other infectious diseases, we analyzed the National Health Insurance database in Taiwan. Rates of other infections were significantly lower after SARS-CoV-2 prevention measures were announced. This finding can be applied to cost-effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 prevention.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Taiwan; coronavirus disease; enterovirus; influenza; respiratory infections; scarlet fever; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Infection activities and measures against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Taiwan, 2015–2020, comparing activities of influenza, severe complicated influenza, pneumonia, enterovirus infection, and scarlet fever during the 2019–20 influenza season versus the same data for the 5 previous influenza seasons by using difference-in-difference analysis. A) Number of cases of influenza, pneumonia, and enterovirus infection; B) number of cases of severe complicated influenza and scarlet fever; C) difference-in-difference value in 2020 vs. 2015–2019 (95% credible interval [CrI]) for influenza, pneumonia, and enterovirus infection; D) difference-in-difference value in 2020 vs. 2015–2019 (95% CrI) for severe complicated influenza and scarlet fever. Negative 95% CrI indicates fewer cases in the 2019–20 season than in the 5 previous seasons (p<0.05). Vertical dotted lines indicate timeline of actions and policies against COVID-19 (weeks 4, 6, 7, and 14; see panel B). WHO, World Health Organization; K-12, kindergarten through 12th grade.