Rhinoviruses restored while fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic in Guangzhou, China

Background: To analyze the epidemic characteristics of the human rhinovirus (HRV) outbreaks in Guangzhou, China, in 2020. Method Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analysis the HRV related outbreaks of Guangzhou, 2020. Results 17 outbreaks were reported in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guangzhou, a total of 465 patients (290 males and 175 females) were enrolled, with a median age of 10. 223(47.96%) had been tested for HRV, 89 (39.91%) of which were positive. 344/465 (73.98%) had fever, 138/465 (29.68%) had runny nose, 139/465 (29.89%) had sore throat, 86/465 (18.49%) had cough, 41/465 (8.82%) had headache, 37/465 (7.96%) had sneeze. Patients at age of 13 to 15 had the highest rate of sore throat and runny nose, patients at the age of 11 to 12 had the highest rate of sneeze, and patients at age of 12 to 14 had the highest rate of positive rate. Patients tested positive had a higher rate of fever (2=11.271, P=0.001), cough (2=6.987, P=0.008), runny nose (2=7.980, P=0.005) and sneeze (2=4.676, P=0.031). Conclusion The HRV was restored during the fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic. The conventional COVID-19 control measures were not effective enough in preventing rhinovirus. More appropriate control measures should be used to control HRV.