Corona Virus (COVID-19) Comparison with Flu

Let’s Get Things in Perspective

Influenza and Novel Corona Virus Comparison

There is not a day that goes by that does not have something on the news about the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  It is scary for some who have family and friends who may have connections with folks on cruise ships, living in China, travel, etc. The number of cases seems astronomical. What is frustrating is that it is a new virus, and we do not know much about it. Let us not forget that the flu is also spreading rapidly.

What we do know for now:

	Flu	COVID-19	Comments
Mode of Transmission	Droplet (Gown and Mask) Regular Room	Airborne Gown, N-95/PAPR, goggles/Face shield Negative Pressure if available or private room with door shut and surgical mask on client	Human to human for both Both are Viral
Incubation period (time to grow and spread	24 hours before symptoms until 24-48 hours temperature free without benefit of Tylenol or aspirin	14 days from exposure. Can spread before symptoms even occur	This is why some people returning from China have been placed in Quarantine for 14 days
Symptoms	Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, tiredness (diarrhea and vomiting in children)	Fever, cough and shortness of breath along with: travel to China, contact with a confirmed COVID-19 person, or having cared for a COVID-19 person with in the last 14 days	Symptoms are both similar
Diagnostic Test	Nasopharyngeal swab	Nasopharyngeal Swab Oropharyngeal Swab Sputum Blood (Gold top serum separated tube)	Flu testing done in Bath COVID-19 goes to CDC as directed by the Public Health Department
Treatment	Tamiflu or Xofluza Plus, symptom management	Symptom management
Vaccine	Yes	No

If there is a suspected case of the COVID-19 Virus, the local Department of Health  where the patient lives will be notified.  No one who is suspected of COVID-19 will be discharged without a discharge plan from the Health Department.

One must practice good Public Health:

• If sick… stay away from others, stay home (if you have a cough, sneezing, etc., from a cold, and  you come to work, please wear a mask!!)
• Cover your mouth when you cough.
• Keep your hands and fingers away from your eyes, mouth and nose.
• Wipe down work areas, as well as areas at home (cell phones, tables, door knobs).
• Eat healthy.
• Get sleep.
• Wash your hands.
• Get a flu shot if you have not already done so. (If you did not get a flu shot, remember masks are available for you to wear.)

Remember, you can help prevent the flu or lessen the effects of the flu with a flu shot. There is no shot for Coronavirus.

So, to keep things in perspective

	Influenza	COVID-19	Comments
Number of cases	106,000 + cases in NYS 15, 000,000 USA cases this year	0 cases NYS 19 patients checked outside NYC 6 in NYC ALL negative with none pending currently. 15 Cases in the US	75,282 (Global for COVID-19) 140,000 people have been hospitalized for flu in the US this year
Number of Deaths	3 Pediatric (in NYS) (state doesn’t indicate the number of deaths for adults…. but it is there) 12,000 Flu deaths USA this year	0 USA 2,012 COVID-19 global	61,000 People died from the flu in 2017-18

Adapted from:  VA Newsletter 02/20/20