Blog

COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are often compared to assess the risk and impact of both diseases. Let's take a closer look at their differences.

The mortality rate for seasonal flu is around 0.1%. Early studies suggest that COVID-19 could be 4 to 35 times more lethal. Even in the best-case scenario, COVID-19 is still 4 to 8 times as deadly.

And this, despite the fact that the actual number of COVID-19 deaths is likely higher than the officially confirmed cases. Many people die at home without being tested for COVID-19, especially in countries where the healthcare system is overwhelmed. As a result, many COVID-19 deaths may go unrecorded, and the true number could be significantly higher than the official figures.

Compared to the seasonal flu, COVID-19 has overwhelmed healthcare systems in a shorter period of time. Reports from some countries indicate that there aren’t enough ambulances available to transport patients struggling to breathe to hospitals. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has shown that healthcare systems are poorly prepared for such outbreaks.

Unlike the flu, COVID-19’s incubation period lasts several days to weeks. This exacerbates the strain, as infected individuals can unknowingly spread the virus during this asymptomatic phase. Moreover, COVID-19 can cause long-term health damage, which may be irreversible.

Closing Words

I’m not trying to downplay how serious the flu is, since it still claims many lives every year. But COVID-19 is significantly more dangerous and deadly than the seasonal flu. And because there’s no vaccine for it yet, unlike the flu, the only way to slow its spread is by consistently following other protective measures like social distancing, wearing masks, and proper hygiene.