Arctic Investigations Program, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, AK, USA.
Hospitalizations due to non-COVID-19 respiratory illnesses decreased dramatically after social distancing was implemented in a high-risk population in rural Alaska. Our data from the past ten respiratory seasons show that this decline is unprecedented. This demonstrates the potential secondary benefits of implementing social distancing and travel restrictions on respiratory illnesses.