Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has implemented timely and accurate non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) measures on a national level (i.e., border control, quarantine and isolation, contact tracing, delay of school opening, and suspension of mass gatherings), and promoted personal hygiene habits to the public (i.e., frequent hand washing with soap, face masks wearing). Consequently, as of July 27, Taiwan has had relatively low number of confirmed cases (458) and deaths (7), and no locally transmitted cases for more than 30 consecutive days. We observed from data collected via Taiwan National Infectious Disease Statistics System that during the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient visits for other infectious diseases such as influenza, which is also transmitted through droplets, aerosols, and contact, and enterovirus infections, transmitted via faecal-oral route or respiratory transmissions, have reduced significantly compared to previous two years. Epidemic trend for both diseases have also changed, with seasonal influenza activities ending weeks earlier than it did in 2018 and 2019, and lack of increase in enterovirus infections that is usually witnessed at the end of March. Our observation suggest the NPI measures and personal hygiene habits enforced against the COVID-19 pandemic may have inadvertently “flattened the curve” for influenza and enterovirus infections as well. This may indirectly relieve the stress on Taiwan’s health system and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis. More information will be needed to verify this hypothesis.

Highlights

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contact

  • In late December 2019, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), broke out in Wuhan City, China, and has become a global crisis

  • According to Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) reports, in week 1 of 2020, seasonal influenza epidemic was on the rise with increasing medical visits, and a total of 499 cases with severe complications, 26 being fatal, since the season began at the end of 2019 (TCDC, 2020e)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contact. Taiwan has so far been successful in controlling the outbreak, with 458 confirmed cases, 7 deaths, and no locally transmitted cases for more than 30 days (as of July 27) (TCDC, 2020a).

Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.