Impact of the COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions on influenza and other respiratory viral infections in New Zealand

Stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and border closures are not currently recommended for pandemic influenza control. New Zealand used these NPIs to eliminate coronavirus disease 2019 during its first wave. Using multiple surveillance systems, we observed a parallel and unprecedented reduction of influenza and other respiratory viral infections in 2020. This finding supports the use of these NPIs for controlling pandemic influenza and other severe respiratory viral threats.

Q. Sue Huang, Tim Wood, Lauren Jelley, Tineke Jennings, Sarah Jefferies, Karen Daniells, Annette Nesdale, Tony Dowell, Nikki Turner, Priscilla Campbell-Stokes, Michelle Balm, Hazel C. Dobinson, Cameron C. Grant, Shelley James, Nayyereh Aminisani, Jacqui Ralston, Wendy Gunn, Judy Bocacao, Jessica Danielewicz, Tessa Moncrieff, Andrea McNeill, Liza Lopez, Ben Waite, Tomasz Kiedrzynski, Hannah Schrader, Rebekah Gray, Kayla Cook, Danielle Currin, Chaune Engelbrecht, Whitney Tapurau, Leigh Emmerton, Maxine Martin, Michael G. Baker, Susan Taylor, Adrian Trenholme, Conroy Wong, Shirley Lawrence, Colin McArthur, Alicia Stanley, Sally Roberts, Fahimeh Rahnama, Jenny Bennett, Chris Mansell, Meik Dilcher, Anja Werno, Jennifer Grant, Antje van der Linden, Ben Youngblood, Paul G. Thomas, NPIsImpactOnFlu Consortium, Richard J. Webby