In the hospital where I work, people who are having flu-like symptoms are being tested for flu at the same time as COVID. There is no conspiracy to count the positive flu tests as COVID at our hospital. The fact is there are very few positive flu tests in the patient population, and I know this is 100% true. No one knows why exactly but this is the way it is.

The easiest explanation to imagine is that masks and social distancing have likely made a big impact. That does not mean it is the only reason flu is so scarce this year, but until a better theory with strong supporting data is put forward, I am leaning toward the widespread masking as the most likely cause for decreased flu transmission.

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Posted by Chef Curry

Member since Mar 2019

2068 posts

Posted on 5/14/21 at 8:39 am to JT

quote:
In the hospital where I work, people who are having flu-like symptoms are being tested for flu at the same time as COVID. There is no conspiracy to count the positive flu tests as COVID at our hospital. The fact is there are very few positive flu tests in the patient population, and I know this is 100% true. No one knows why exactly but this is the way it is. The easiest explanation to imagine is that masks and social distancing have likely made a big impact. That does not mean it is the only reason flu is so scarce this year, but until a better theory with strong supporting data is put forward, I am leaning toward the widespread masking as the most likely cause for decreased flu transmission.

This is dumb. Masking and social distancing eradicated the flu but not COVID?

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Posted by PhDoogan

Member since Sep 2018

14947 posts

Posted on 5/14/21 at 8:40 am to JT

quote:
The easiest explanation to imagine is that masks and social distancing have likely made a big impact.

Well I would agree that it is easy to imagine, but explain the discrepancy why social distancing and masking prevented the spread of one airborne virus but not the other?

I have heard for a long time that the COVID tests were supposed to test for flu as well but were flawed in their sensitivity for detecting CV19.

This post was edited on 5/14/21 at 9:07 am

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Posted by Bulldogblitz

In my house

Member since Dec 2018

26792 posts

Posted on 5/14/21 at 9:25 am to JT

quote:
No one knows why exactly but this is the way it is.

But we should follow their directions 100% of the time.

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Posted by LaLadyinTx

Cypress, TX

Member since Nov 2018

6073 posts

Posted on 5/14/21 at 9:26 am to JT

quote:
In the hospital where I work, people who are having flu-like symptoms are being tested for flu at the same time as COVID. There is no conspiracy to count the positive flu tests as COVID at our hospital. The fact is there are very few positive flu tests in the patient population, and I know this is 100% true. No one knows why exactly but this is the way it is.

The easiest explanation to imagine is that masks and social distancing have likely made a big impact. That does not mean it is the only reason flu is so scarce this year, but until a better theory with strong supporting data is put forward, I am leaning toward the widespread masking as the most likely cause for decreased flu transmission.

Same with my hospital. And there is no pressure for it to go either way. Lab companies just report results. They do not care which way the results go.

Y'all may not know, but masking during flu season was always a requirement for healthcare workers who refused or could not take the flu vaccine. It was always believed that masking reduced the transmission of influenza. I think it will be likely that this will be the recommendation for healthcare workers and COVID as well. Vaccinate or be masked.

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Posted by Robin Masters