Using an influenza surveillance system to estimate the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Beijing, China, weeks 2 to 6 2023

Li Zhang; Yi Zhang; Wei Duan; Shuangsheng Wu; Ying Sun; Chunna Ma; Quanyi Wang; Daitao Zhang; Peng Yang

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.11.2300128

Using an influenza surveillance system to estimate the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Beijing, China, weeks 2 to 6 2023

Euro Surveill. 2023 Mar;28(11):2300128. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.11.2300128.

Authors

Li Zhang¹, Yi Zhang², Wei Duan¹, Shuangsheng Wu¹, Ying Sun¹, Chunna Ma¹, Quanyi Wang¹, Daitao Zhang¹, Peng Yang¹

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
² General Administration of Customs (Beijing) International Travel Health Care Center, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.

PMID: 36927716
PMCID: PMC10021470
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.11.2300128

Abstract

With COVID-19 public health control measures downgraded in China in January 2023, reported COVID-19 case numbers may underestimate the true numbers after the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron wave. Using a multiplier model based on our influenza surveillance system, we estimated that the overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was 392/100,000 population in Beijing during the 5 weeks following policy adjustment. No notable change occurred after the Spring Festival in early February. The multiplier model provides an opportunity for assessing the actual COVID-19 situation.

Keywords: COVID-19; Multiplier model; SARS-CoV-2; Surveillance.

MeSH terms

Beijing / epidemiology
COVID-19*
China / epidemiology
Humans
Influenza, Human* / diagnosis
Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2