- Moderator
- #781
This is true. In fact according to research I've read, if somebody was infected with two separate viral infections concurrently then the overall illness is generally less intense than getting one by itself (and the degree of lesser severity lasts well after the acute illness has subsided). Me and a ER doc joked that we wanted to get influenza and a cold this winter because it would likely give us months of increased covid-19 protection if we contracted them.
I don't think people getting infected with coronavirus is necessarily the biggest factor in the reduced influenza spread in the northern and southern hemispheres, as there's still a huge huge majority of the population that haven't had SARS-CoV-2. I think social distancing, sanitization and masks are mostly to blame. This winter is still VERY early though, and even though Australia has had great signs, the northern hemisphere has by far worse influenza seasons for a variety of reasons.
I don't think people getting infected with coronavirus is necessarily the biggest factor in the reduced influenza spread in the northern and southern hemispheres, as there's still a huge huge majority of the population that haven't had SARS-CoV-2. I think social distancing, sanitization and masks are mostly to blame. This winter is still VERY early though, and even though Australia has had great signs, the northern hemisphere has by far worse influenza seasons for a variety of reasons.