Abstract
Stay-at-home orders, physical distancing, face masks and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) do not only impact COVID-19, but also the dynamics of various other infectious diseases. Bronchiolitis is a clinically diagnosed viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, and causes a yearly seasonal wave of admissions in paediatric wards worldwide. We counted 92,5% less bronchiolitis hospitalisations in Antwerp before the expected end of the peak this year (of which only 1 RSV positive), as compared to the last 3 years. Furthermore, there was a >99% reduction in the number of registered RSV cases in Belgium.Conslusion: The 2020 winter bronchiolitis peak is hitherto nonexistent, but we fear a ‘delayed’ spring/summer bronchiolitis peak when most NPIs will be relaxed and pre-pandemic life restarts.What is known?• Bronchiolitis causes a yearly seasonal wave of admissions in paediatric departments worldwide.• Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) do not only impact COVID-19, but also the dynamics of various other infectious diseases.What is new?• The 2020 winter bronchiolitis peak is hitherto nonexistent.• A ‘delayed’ spring or summer bronchiolitis peak could happen when most NPIs will be relaxed and pre-pandemic life restarts.
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