Claims that flu cases are used to inflate COVID-19 case counts are misleading, based on inaccurate numbers
Health authorities have observed lower than usual flu activity in October 2020, which is generally the month in which flu season begins. The widespread adoption of public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing masks and physical distancing, likely contributed, in part, to the lower flu activity observed so far this year compared to previous years. However, scientists emphasize that preparing for the flu season is still important, due to the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the flu season has only just begun at the time of this review’s publication, hence it is premature to conclude that flu cases have indeed decreased compared to last year.