Respiratory Virus Report, week 36 - ending September 11, 2021

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

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Overall Summary

September 5 to September 11, 2021 (week 36)

Respiratory virus detections continue to increase in Canada

  • Enterovirus/rhinovirus (495 detections; 19.2% positive), respiratory syncytial virus (479 detections; 7.7% positive), and human parainfluenza virus (137 detections; 5.0% positive) are the most common seasonal respiratory viruses detected in Canada; activity of these viruses has fluctuated in recent weeks
    • Activity of enterovirus/rhinovirus is slightly below expected levels
    • Activity of respiratory syncytial virus is above expected levels; the majority of detections are found in Quebec
    • Activity of human parainfluenza virus is above expected levels
  • Detections of other respiratory viruses are low
  • The number of tests performed for all viruses are above expected levels
  • 32/34 sentinel laboratories reported surveillance data
Abbreviations:
Flu
Influenza
A(H1)pdm09
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09
A(H3)
Influenza A(H3N2)
A(UnS)
Influenza A(Unsubtyped)
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus
HPIV
Human parainfluenza virus
HMPV
Human metapneumovirus
ADV
Adenovirus
EV/RV
Enterovirus/Rhinovirus
HCoV
Human coronavirus
Atl
Atlantic Canada
BC
British Columbia
Can
Canada
EORLA
Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association
HSC
Health Sciences Centre
N.C.
Data not collected
N.R.
Data not reported for current week
ON
Ontario
PR
Prairies
P.H.O.L.
Public Health Ontario Laboratory
QC
Quebec
Terr
Territories of Canada
UHN
University Health Network

The Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System collects data from select laboratories across Canada on the number of tests performed and the number of tests positive for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Data are reported on a weekly basis year-round to the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases (CIRID), Public Health Agency of Canada. These data are also summarized in the weekly FluWatch report.

In this Respiratory Virus Report, the number of detections of coronavirus reflects only seasonal human coronaviruses, not the novel pandemic coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. For information on COVID-19, see the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

Respiratory virus detections

Table 1: Respiratory virus detections for the week ending September 11, 2021 (surveillance week 2021-36)
Reporting Laboratory Flu Tested A(H1)pdm09 Positive A(H3) Positive A(UnS) Positive Total Flu A Positive Total Flu B Positive RSV Tested RSV Positive HPIV Tested HPIV 1 Positive HPIV 2 Positive HPIV 3 Positive HPIV 4 Positive Other HPIV Positive ADV Tested ADV Positive HMPV Tested HMPV Positive EV/RV Tested EV/RV Positive HCoV Tested HCoV Positive
Newfoundland 451 0 0 0 0 0 451 4 451 0 0 0 0 1 451 1 451 0 451 77 N.C. N.C.
Prince Edward Island 58 0 0 0 0 0 58 0 58 0 0 12 0 0 58 3 58 0 58 20 58 0
Nova Scotia 41 0 0 0 0 0 41 0 36 0 2 3 0 0 36 0 36 0 36 4 36 0
New Brunswick 125 0 0 0 0 0 121 0 108 0 0 1 0 0 108 0 108 0 108 1 108 0
Atlantic 675 0 0 0 0 0 671 4 653 0 2 16 0 1 653 4 653 0 653 102 202 0
Région Nord-Est 463 0 0 0 0 0 127 39 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.C. N.C. 0 0
Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches 29 0 0 0 0 0 62 22 25 0 0 3 0 0 25 1 25 0 N.C. N.C. 25 0
Centre-du-Québec 41 0 0 0 0 0 42 12 12 0 0 1 0 0 12 0 12 0 N.C. N.C. 12 0
Montréal-Laval 755 0 0 0 0 0 757 332 110 1 0 1 0 0 110 6 110 1 N.C. N.C. 110 0
Ouest du Québec 45 0 0 0 0 0 45 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 N.C. N.C. 2 0
Montérégie 36 0 0 0 0 0 36 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.C. N.C. 0 0
Province of Québec 1369 0 0 0 0 0 1069 426 149 1 0 5 0 0 147 7 149 1 N.C. N.C. 149 0
P.H.O.L. - Ottawa 271 0 0 0 0 0 271 29 271 0 0 0 0 59 271 10 271 0 271 99 271 6
EORLA 84 0 0 0 0 0 84 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 9 3 0 0
P.H.O.L. - Kingston 18 0 0 0 0 0 18 1 18 0 0 0 0 3 18 1 18 0 18 5 18 0
UHN / Mount Sinai Hospital 348 0 0 1 1 0 348 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0
P.H.O.L. - Toronto 129 0 0 0 0 0 129 0 129 0 0 0 0 7 129 0 129 0 129 22 129 0
Sick Kids Hospital - Toronto N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R.
Sunnybrook & Women's College HSC N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R.
P.H.O.L. - Sault Ste. Marie 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
P.H.O.L. - Timmins 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0
St. Joseph's - London 29 0 0 0 0 0 29 1 29 0 0 3 0 0 29 0 29 0 29 3 29 0
P.H.O.L. - London 39 0 0 0 0 0 39 0 39 0 0 0 0 0 39 0 39 0 39 6 39 0
P.H.O.L. - Orillia 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 11 0 11 3 11 0
P.H.O.L. - Thunder Bay 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0
P.H.O.L. - Sudbury 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 9 1 9 0
P.H.O.L. - Hamilton 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 19 4 19 5 19 0
P.H.O.L. - Peterborough 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 9 2 9 0
St. Joseph's - Hamilton 218 0 0 0 0 0 212 4 212 0 0 16 0 0 212 2 212 0 212 19 0 0
Province of Ontario 1193 0 0 1 1 0 1187 37 774 0 0 19 0 71 774 13 765 4 774 168 553 6
Province of Manitoba 1291 0 0 0 0 0 1291 2 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 79 1 19 1 79 0
Province of Saskatchewan 68 0 0 0 0 0 68 1 73 0 0 1 1 0 73 2 73 0 73 15 73 0
Province of Alberta 1607 0 0 0 0 0 761 2 761 0 1 11 0 0 761 5 761 0 761 155 761 7
Prairies 2966 0 0 0 0 0 2120 5 853 0 1 12 1 0 853 7 913 1 853 171 913 7
British Columbia 930 0 0 0 0 0 930 5 308 0 0 7 0 1 308 3 308 0 302 54 298 0
Yukon 165 0 0 0 0 0 237 2 N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C.
Northwest Territories 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0
Nunavut 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Territories 171 0 0 0 0 0 240 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0
CANADA 7304 0 0 1 1 0 6217 479 2740 1 3 59 1 73 2738 34 2791 6 2585 495 2118 13

The data in the RVDSS report represent surveillance data available at the time of writing. Data missing from the current week are denoted by N.R. Data not collected by reporting lab denoted by N.C.

The reporting laboratory previously listed as CHEO - Ottawa is now listed as EORLA to better reflect data submitted by this provider.

Specimens from Yukon (YT), Northwest Territories (NT) and Nunavut (NU) are sent to reference laboratories in other provinces and reported results reflect specimens identified as originating from YT, NT or NU.

Results from British Columbia comprise of specimens from the following sites: BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Children's and Women's Hospital Laboratory, Fraser Health Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Island Health, Providence Health Care, Powell River Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Interior Health Authority sites and Northern Health Authority sites.

Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively.

Influenza co-detections may cause the sum of A(H1)pdm09, A(H3), and A(UnS) positive results to exceed the sum of Total Flu A Positive results.

Table 2: Cumulative respiratory virus detections from August 29, 2021 to September 11, 2021 (surveillance week 2021-35 to 2021-36)
Reporting Laboratory Flu Tested A(H1)pdm09 Positive A(H3) Positive A(UnS) Positive Total Flu A Positive Total Flu B Positive RSV Tested RSV Positive HPIV Tested HPIV 1 Positive HPIV 2 Positive HPIV 3 Positive HPIV 4 Positive Other HPIV Positive ADV Tested ADV Positive HMPV Tested HMPV Positive EV/RV Tested EV/RV Positive HCoV Tested HCoV Positive
Newfoundland 933 0 0 0 0 0 933 4 933 0 0 1 0 3 933 5 933 0 933 180 N.C. N.C.
Prince Edward Island 111 0 0 0 0 0 111 0 111 0 0 14 0 0 111 5 111 0 111 38 111 0
Nova Scotia 87 0 0 0 0 0 87 0 74 0 2 6 0 0 74 0 74 0 74 6 74 0
New Brunswick 169 0 0 0 0 0 153 0 115 0 0 1 0 0 108 0 115 0 115 1 115 0
Atlantic 1300 0 0 0 0 0 1284 4 1233 0 2 22 0 3 1226 10 1233 0 1233 225 300 0
Région Nord-Est 666 0 0 0 0 0 153 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.C. N.C. 0 0
Québec-Chaudière-Appalaches 58 0 0 0 0 0 112 29 53 0 0 3 0 0 53 1 53 0 N.C. N.C. 53 0
Centre-du-Québec 51 0 0 0 0 0 53 15 23 0 0 6 0 0 23 0 23 0 N.C. N.C. 23 0
Montréal-Laval 1316 0 0 1 1 0 1318 556 208 1 0 3 0 0 208 12 208 4 N.C. N.C. 208 0
Ouest du Québec 69 0 0 0 0 0 69 20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 N.C. N.C. 3 0
Montérégie 57 0 0 0 0 0 57 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N.C. N.C. 0 0
Province of Québec 2217 0 0 1 1 0 1762 689 287 1 0 12 0 0 284 13 287 4 N.C. N.C. 287 0
P.H.O.L. - Ottawa 569 0 0 0 0 0 569 43 569 0 0 0 0 130 569 20 569 2 569 228 569 16
EORLA 173 0 0 0 0 0 173 4 34 0 0 2 0 0 34 0 0 0 34 6 25 1
P.H.O.L. - Kingston 46 0 0 0 0 0 46 1 46 0 0 0 0 11 46 3 46 0 46 15 46 0
UHN / Mount Sinai Hospital 748 0 0 1 1 0 748 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 26 0 26 1 26 0
P.H.O.L. - Toronto 281 0 0 0 0 0 281 1 281 0 0 0 0 19 281 1 281 0 281 45 281 0
Sick Kids Hospital - Toronto 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 1 0 0 28 0 28 0 28 11 28 0
Sunnybrook & Women's College HSC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P.H.O.L. - Sault Ste. Marie 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0
P.H.O.L. - Timmins 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0
St. Joseph's - London 46 0 0 0 0 0 46 1 46 0 0 4 0 0 46 0 46 0 46 6 46 0
P.H.O.L. - London 64 0 0 0 0 0 64 0 64 0 0 0 0 1 64 0 64 0 64 9 64 0
P.H.O.L. - Orillia 26 0 0 0 0 0 26 1 26 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 26 0 26 8 26 0
P.H.O.L. - Thunder Bay 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 19 0 19 9 19 0
P.H.O.L. - Sudbury 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 17 0 17 2 17 0
P.H.O.L. - Hamilton 24 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 24 0 0 0 0 1 24 0 24 4 24 5 24 0
P.H.O.L. - Peterborough 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 1 16 0 16 0 16 3 16 0
St. Joseph's - Hamilton 430 0 0 0 0 0 424 5 424 0 0 41 0 0 424 2 424 1 424 48 0 0
Province of Ontario 2500 0 0 1 1 0 2466 56 1633 0 0 48 0 165 1633 26 1599 7 1633 396 1200 17
Manitoba 2464 0 0 0 0 0 2464 2 42 0 0 0 0 0 42 1 155 1 42 16 155 0
Province of Saskatchewan 122 0 0 0 0 0 122 1 142 0 0 1 1 0 142 2 142 0 142 34 142 0
Province of Alberta 3222 0 0 1 1 0 1402 3 1402 0 1 20 5 0 1402 8 1402 0 1402 280 1402 15
Prairies 5808 0 0 1 1 0 3988 6 1586 0 1 21 6 0 1586 11 1699 1 1586 330 1699 15
British Columbia 1955 0 0 1 1 0 1955 8 623 0 0 11 0 2 623 4 623 0 613 98 609 2
Yukon 361 0 0 0 0 0 433 2 N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C.
Northwest Territories 13 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 1 9 0 9 2 9 0
Nunavut 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0
Territories 376 0 0 0 0 0 444 2 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 11 0 11 2 11 0
CANADA 14156 0 0 4 4 0 11899 765 5373 1 3 114 6 170 5363 65 5452 12 5076 1051 4106 34

The data in the RVDSS report represent surveillance data available at the time of writing. Data not collected by reporting lab denoted by N.C.

Specimens from Yukon (YT), Northwest Territories (NT) and Nunavut (NU) are sent to reference laboratories in other provinces and reported results reflect specimens identified as originating from YT, NT or NU.

The reporting laboratory previously listed as CHEO - Ottawa is now listed as EORLA to better reflect data submitted by this provider.

Results from British Columbia comprise of specimens from the following sites: BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Children's and Women's Hospital Laboratory, Fraser Health Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Island Health, Providence Health Care, Powell River Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Interior Health Authority sites and Northern Health Authority sites.

Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. Due to these delays, the sum of weekly report totals do not add up to cumulative totals.

Influenza co-detections may cause the sum of A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3), and A(UnS) positive results to exceed the sum of Total Flu A Positive results.

Positive respiratory virus tests historical comparison

Figure 1: Positive respiratory virus tests (%) reported by participating laboratories in Canada by surveillance week compared to average and range from 2014-2015 to 2019-2020 season

Figure 1

Shaded area represents the maximum and minimum % of respiratory virus tests positive reported by week from seasons 2014-2015 to 2019-2020

Note: Data from week 11 of the 2019-2020 season onwards is excluded from the historical comparison due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Note: % Tests Positive scale changes across the dashed line

a Human coronavirus excludes human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2; Includes seasonal human coronaviruses HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1.

Figure 1: Positive respiratory virus tests (%) reported by participating laboratories in Canada by surveillance week compared to average and range from 2014-2015 to 2019-2020 season
Week Week end 2021-2022 A% 2020-2021 A% Max A% Base Min A% Base Av A% Base 2021-2022 B% 2020-2021 B% Max B% Base Min B% Base Av B% Base 2021-2022 RSV% 2020-2021 RSV% Max RSV% Base Min RSV% Base Av RSV% Base 2021-2022 HPIV% 2020-2021 HPIV% Max HPIV% Base Min HPIV% Base Av HPIV% Base 2021-2022 ADV% 2020-2021 ADV% Max ADV% Base Min ADV% Base Av ADV% Base 2021-2022 HMPV% 2020-2021 HMPV% Max HMPV% Base Min HMPV% Base Av HMPV% Base 2021-2022 EV/RV% 2020-2021 EV/RV% Max EV/RV% Base Min EV/RV% Base Av EV/RV% Base 2021-2022 HCoV% 2020-2021 HCoV% Max HCoV% Base Min HCoV% Base Av HCoV% Base
35 2021-09-04 0.04 0.00 1.60 0.11 0.68 0.00 0.02 0.28 0.00 0.13 5.03 0.02 1.34 0.38 0.60 5.96 0.08 3.16 1.15 2.42 1.18 0.27 1.74 0.99 1.43 0.23 0.17 2.04 0.10 0.77 22.32 9.07 27.19 22.44 24.78 1.06 0.06 0.76 0.18 0.45
36 2021-09-11 0.01 0.00 2.11 0.23 0.98 0.00 0.00 0.55 0.00 0.15 7.70 0.04 1.09 0.22 0.57 5.00 0.20 3.31 1.35 2.32 1.24 0.40 2.85 1.42 1.87 0.21 0.06 0.84 0.10 0.48 19.15 8.13 30.69 23.30 26.31 0.61 0.00 0.38 0.12 0.22

Number of positive respiratory virus tests

Figure 2: Number of positive respiratory virus tests reported by participating laboratories in Canada by surveillance week
Figure 2
Figure 2: Number of positive respiratory virus tests reported by participating laboratories in Canada by surveillance week
Week ParaInfluenza Adenovirus Human metapneumovirus Enterovirus/Rhinovirus Coronavirus Respiratory syncytial virus Influenza
35 157 31 6 556 21 286 3
36 137 34 6 495 13 479 1

Positive influenza (Flu) tests

Figure 3: Positive influenza (Flu) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 3
Figure 3: Positive influenza (Flu) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week end Can Tests Can A% Can B% Atl Tests Atl A% Atl B% QC Tests QC A% QC B% ON Tests ON A% ON B% Pr Tests Pr A% Pr B% BC Tests BC A% BC B% Terr Tests Terr A% Terr B%
35 2021-09-04 6852 0.04 0.00 625 0.00 0.00 848 0.12 0.00 1307 0.00 0.00 2842 0.04 0.00 1025 0.10 0.00 205 0.00 0.00
36 2021-09-11 7304 0.01 0.00 675 0.00 0.00 1369 0.00 0.00 1193 0.08 0.00 2966 0.00 0.00 930 0.00 0.00 171 0.00 0.00

Positive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests

Figure 4: Positive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 4
Figure 4: Positive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week end Can Tests RSV% Atl Tests RSV% QC Tests RSV% ON Tests RSV% Pr Tests RSV% BC Tests RSV% Terr Tests RSV%
35 2021-09-04 5682 5.03 613 0.00 693 37.95 1279 1.49 1868 0.05 1025 0.29 204 0.00
36 2021-09-11 6217 7.70 671 0.60 1069 39.85 1187 3.12 2120 0.24 930 0.54 240 0.83

Positive human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) tests

Figure 5: Positive human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 5
Figure 5: Positive human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week End Can Tests HPIV% Atl Tests HPIV% QC Tests HPIV% ON Tests HPIV% Pr Tests HPIV% BC Tests HPIV%
35 2021-09-04 2633 5.96 580 1.38 138 5.07 859 14.32 733 1.91 315 1.59
36 2021-09-11 2740 5.00 653 2.91 149 4.03 774 11.63 853 1.64 306 2.61

Positive adenovirus (ADV) tests

Figure 6: Positive adenovirus (ADV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 6
Figure 6: Positive adenovirus (ADV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week End Can Tests ADV% Atl Tests ADV% QC Tests ADV% ON Tests ADV% Pr Tests ADV% BC Tests ADV%
35 2021-09-04 2625 1.18 573 1.05 137 4.38 859 1.51 733 0.55 315 0.32
36 2021-09-11 2738 1.24 653 0.61 147 4.76 774 1.68 853 0.82 306 0.98

Positive human metapneumovirus (HMPV) tests

Figure 7: Positive human metapneumovirus (HMPV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 7
Figure 7: Positive human metapneumovirus (HMPV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week End Can Tests HMPV% Atl Tests HMPV% QC Tests HMPV% ON Tests HMPV% Pr Tests HMPV% BC Tests HMPV%
35 2021-09-04 2661 0.23 580 0.00 138 2.17 834 0.36 786 0.00 315 0.00
36 2021-09-11 2791 0.21 653 0.00 149 0.67 765 0.52 913 0.11 306 0.00

Positive enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV) tests

Figure 8: Positive enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 8
Figure 8: Positive enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week End Can Tests EV/RV% Atl Tests EV/RV% QC Tests EV/RV% ON Tests EV/RV% Pr Tests EV/RV% BC Tests EV/RV%
35 2021-09-04 2491 22.32 580 21.21 N.A. N.A. 859 26.54 733 21.69 311 14.15
36 2021-09-11 2585 19.15 653 15.62 N.A. N.A. 774 21.71 853 20.05 300 18.00

Positive human coronavirus (HCoV) tests

Figure 9: Positive human coronavirus (HCoV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Figure 9
Figure 9: Positive human coronavirus (HCoV) tests (%) in Canada by region by surveillance week
Week Week End Can Tests HCoV% Atl Tests HCoV% QC Tests HCoV% ON Tests HCoV% Pr Tests HCoV% BC Tests HCoV%
35 2021-09-04 1988 1.06 98 0.00 138 0.00 647 1.70 786 1.02 311 0.64
36 2021-09-11 2118 0.61 202 0.00 149 0.00 553 1.08 913 0.77 296 0.00

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