Yingna Liu1, Ronald Ikechi1,2, Christine Ramdin1, Kei U. Wong1,2.
1Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA,
2University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
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Abstract
In the US, influenza activity occurs primarily through the fall and winter. However, in 2022, peak flu activity was reported in March. We hypothesized that the rates of influenza and comparable respiratory illnesses of RSV and COVID-19 in our pediatric emergency department were affected by COVID-19 pandemic-related social distancing and masking policies. We conducted a retrospective chart review from January 2017 to December 2022 for patients aged 0-18 who tested for influenza A/B, RSV, or COVID-19. We used Chi-squared difference of proportions and Fischer’s exact test to evaluate differences in positive test rates three months prior and three months after lifting of a state mask mandate in May 2021 and school mask mandate in March 2022. A total of 12,851 patients tested for flu, RSV, or COVID-19 from 2017 to 2022. RSV and COVID-19 positive test rates had significant differences three months prior and after lifting of both mandates (RSV p <0.0002, COVID p=0.0018). Influenza positive test rates had significant differences after lifting school mask mandates (p <0.0002). However, influenza and RSV positive test rates were significantly different between the same time periods in 2018 as compared to 2022 (influenza p <0.0002, RSV p=0.029). These results suggest that policies that reduce social distancing measures contribute to viral incidence, and that virus seasonality has shifted since the COVID pandemic. Future studies may assess broader county or state data to determine whether different locations have similar outcomes after policy changes.
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