Correlations between control of COVID-19 transmission and influenza occurrences in Malaysia
Objectives: The transmission of COVID-19 has sent Malaysia into cycles of tightening and relaxation of movement control, which are still continuing currently in line with local fluctuations of new COVID-19 cases. During movement control, measures comprising physical distancing, hand cleaning or s...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/85131 |
| Summary: | Objectives:
The transmission of COVID-19 has sent Malaysia into cycles of tightening and relaxation of movement control, which are still continuing currently in line with local fluctuations of new COVID-19 cases. During movement control, measures comprising physical distancing, hand cleaning or sanitizing, and sanitization of premises are consistently implemented while self-isolation and travel restrictions are adaptively enforced. This study aims to examine if the control of COVID-19 transmission has an effect on the national influenza occurrences as some measures for COVID-19 control are similar to those for influenza.
Study design:
For this study, data of weekly new cases of influenza and COVID-19 were obtained from official platforms for non-parametric statistical analysis.
Methods:
This study compared the influenza occurrences before and after the onset of COVID-19 using the Mann–Whitney U-test and explored Spearman's correlations between COVID-19 and influenza incidences after the onset of COVID-19.
Results:
It shows that influenza incidences before and after the onset of COVID-19 were significantly different and that influenza cases have significantly reduced after the onset of COVID-19. The weekly cases of influenza and COVID-19 were significantly and negatively correlated.
Conclusions:
This study underscores the co-benefits of COVID-19 control measures and alleviates the concern for the risk of COVID-19 and influenza co-infection. |
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