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Original poster

Colds and flu disappeared?

57 replies

Floralapron · 31/01/2021 10:01

Read an article this morning saying that colds and the flu have virtually disappeared this year.

Can someone explain to me in simple layman’s terms, why the flu and colds seem to have basically disappeared, but covid is still rife. Surely if the hygiene and distancing rules are working against other viral illness, they should be working against covid too? I’m really confused!

OP posts:
SpaceRaiders · 31/01/2021 10:04

Isn’t it because covid is far more transmissible than the common Cold/Flu?

OliveTree75 · 31/01/2021 10:04

I have read a few times that hospitals have seen very little RSV amongst children this year

Glenchase · 31/01/2021 10:04

Covid is more contagious than the flu. And it takes longer to show symptoms, so infected people are walking around feeling fine and spreading it.

HipTightOnions · 31/01/2021 10:05

Really? Lots of my pupils had colds (or “colds”) during November/December!

Hardbackwriter · 31/01/2021 10:06

My toddler has had four colds since September - and yes, we tested him for COVID every single time, and yes it was horrible - so if they've disappeared we've been very unlucky!

mootymoo · 31/01/2021 10:06

Really, I have a cold currently!

CallmeAngelina · 31/01/2021 10:07

DH and I were just this minute talking about this, as we questioned last week what the current flu rate might be.
I suppose it has to be that social distancing has stopped flu in its tracks, plus Covid is much much more infectious.
And can you imagine where we'd be if we hadn't socially-distanced/locked down?

whagst · 31/01/2021 10:09

I currently have a cold. I've had one on and off since the beginning of Dec thanks to my germy toddlers. They do still exist.

Babdoc · 31/01/2021 10:12

I think colds and flu rely more on fomites for their spread - hand contact with infected surfaces and objects like door handles etc. People blowing their nose on tissues, getting cold virus on their hands, passing it on.
Covid causes very little nasal discharge so less nose blowing and tissue handling.
The ubiquitous use of hand sanitiser has much reduced that mode of spread for colds.
Covid relies on exhaled aerosol droplet spread, so is still very contagious. Non medical grade masks are by no means airtight and only reduce the level of gross contamination by sneezing, coughing, etc.

Original poster
Floralapron · 31/01/2021 10:16

I’ve not heard of anybody with Norovirus either...apparently that’s more contagious than Covid. Or maybe it’s not more contagious than the new variant, but I believe it was compared with the old one.

OP posts:
RuggeryBuggery · 31/01/2021 10:18

Weirdly the kids have had a couple but I have not have a single cold since Christmas last year and I normally get about 4 a year. I have not had any illness whatsoever 🤔

RuggeryBuggery · 31/01/2021 10:19

Oh - and I have still been going into work and kids have been in school when they’ve been allowed to be

picklemewalnuts · 31/01/2021 10:21

Presumably all the negative Covid tests are the result of a cold or flu?

FoolsAssassin · 31/01/2021 10:22

DH and I have colds.

RaininSummer · 31/01/2021 10:37

I have had several colds this winter and seem to have one now too. Goodness knows how I am getting them as wfh and doing click and collects. I have had 3 Covid tests too all negative.

Wherediditgo · 31/01/2021 10:41

@picklemewalnuts

Presumably all the negative Covid tests are the result of a cold or flu?
I was going to say this How do they actually know what level colds and/or flu are at? Who is collecting the data and how?
MillieEpple · 31/01/2021 10:41

We've had colds and coughs which werent covid as we tested negative.

E1ffelTower · 31/01/2021 10:42

I’ve had colds all year and a nasty flu like virus at the start of January.

Rosehip10 · 31/01/2021 10:47

How have colds gone? Has terrible cold early in new year and actually got a pcr test for covid (negative)

lightand · 31/01/2021 10:48

I have read that parents of school age kids, and the kids themselves, are still getting colds.

I read an article too today. Not sure same one as op. @Wherediditgo, the article said worldwide, flu had gone down by 97%, something like that.

LolaSmiles · 31/01/2021 10:50

I'm guessing that many of the people who had a negative covid test after having new coughs and temperature probably had a seasonal bug.

Also, people are generally keeping a distance, sanitizing their hands more, washing their hands more and wiping surfaces down more too.

I've had a few colds/viral things this year, but not as many as usual. I can only think that students sanitizing their hands on entry/exit to rooms means the doors around school aren't as disgusting as usual.

megletthesecond · 31/01/2021 10:52

Less transmissible.
More people had flu jabs this year?

Spidey66 · 31/01/2021 10:55

It seems obvious to me....lockdown, social distancing, increased handwashing and masks are preventing colds and flu as well as covid.

incywincyspiders · 31/01/2021 10:56

Masks

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