No flu cases this year

[rs1228]

In the Dallas area, I know of 2 confirmed flu cases where I work. Both were in December.

 

[Kittyblue]

Working with kids, I'm usually sick much of Nov-Feb with one virus after another. That's been one nice thing about this, I haven't had more than 1-2 very minor colds since March.

 

[EveDallas]

So why haven't we worn Masks every Flu Season and should we from now on?

Others can do what they want. As for me, as soon as masks aren't required anymore, I'm throwing mine in a pile and burning them.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I totally get it and I hope that places ease up on it I really do. When I was at the insurance company call center it always went against your performance unless you pre-planned PTO (PTO was to be used for everything including sickness), same day PTO usage whether available or not counted against you. Of course people went in for things. Performance played into PTO bids, in shift bids, in STIP (which was basically a bonus), into raises. A doctor's note was not accepted nor asked for because PTO was to be used for everything.

I caught bronchitis when I was under the initial probationary period of being hired and lost 2 days of pay. Came to find out many other people had come down with that and I hadn't really had that before. That building though was strongly suggested to being a sick building but it sure didn't help with their policy being what it was making a sick building even worse.

I don’t know of any places that I’m familiar with that have changed their attendance policies. Not even schools. I’ve spoken to my friends and family who all work for different companies, all different school districts and none have changed. My mother’s job (an essential transport company) is still using a point system for calling out including calling out for covid. My school districts policy is ridiculous. And forget missing in person college classes for my son. That’s a whole other crap show.

 

[jlwhitney]

Others can do what they want. As for me, as soon as masks aren't required anymore, I'm throwing mine in a pile and burning them.

I am fully with you! I am just scared it won't happen, or for all places.

 

[DopeyDame]

The drop in flu really drives home just how very contagious covid is (even before the new, more contagious variant).

I am *so* hopeful that now that people know how to wash their hands better, are more aware of personal space and what they touch, and at least some places have a better attitude about missing school/work when sick, that we'll see long term reductions in flu and things like that. Fingers crossed!

 

[Farro]

When masks aren't required anymore, the two of us won't be wearing them.

I will continue to wash hands, stay home if sick and get my vaccinations.

 

[ronandannette]

I work in a children's hospital, in pediatric hematology/oncology. We do mask during particularly bad flu seasons (based on community spread of flu) and have flu season rules (no siblings in clinic or inpatient, only one parent in clinic, two caregivers inpatient, etc.)

I've heard many people say that it's a conspiracy or blame covid on flu or say that no one is sick with anything else- even some of the parents of my patients say these things, despite what they're seeing on a daily basis.

I can verify that we're seeing much less flu and RSV than we normally do, but it's still out there. Unfortunately, our gastro rate hasn't dropped as much, and we're also still seeing plenty of rhinovirus/enterovirus. Our inpatient units have been full or close to full- more appendicitis than usual, for some reason, and more injuries (right after schools went virtual in the spring, we had a sudden rush of mandible fractures due to scooter accidents.) I wish I could say we're seeing less cancer diagnoses than we normally do, but I can't; we're up a little bit from last year, which we kind of expected, because the childhood cancer rate has been trending upwards very slightly. Our hematology side is also busy, especially as we are seeing many children post-covid due to clots or clot risk, and we are following all of the children here diagnosed with post-covid MIS-C.

Is there much post-Covid MIS-C? It was talked about some late last spring, at which time we followed it with interest, but then seemed to fall off the radar screen of media reporting.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don’t know of any places that I’m familiar with that have changed their attendance policies. Not even schools. I’ve spoken to my friends and family who all work for different companies, all different school districts and none have changed. My mother’s job (an essential transport company) is still using a point system for calling out including calling out for covid. My school districts policy is ridiculous. And forget missing in person college classes for my son. That’s a whole other crap show.

Well..now that's super disappointing

 

[hsmamato2]

It just shows you how terrifyingly contagious COVID is.

The drop in flu really drives home just how very contagious covid is (even before the new, more contagious variant).

This right here... this is what I see. This makes sense to think about. What works pretty easily to lower flu etc is an uphill battle with something like covid 19.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When masks aren't required anymore, the two of us won't be wearing them.

I will continue to wash hands, stay home if sick and get my vaccinations.

My mom and I were just talking about this yesterday. She's like "well I might wear it for just a bit after we've all been given the clear but after that no I'll be glad for that to be gone". I'm basically the same way. I don't know if and how long after but I'm pretty much on the whole "if health officials give the go ahead then that will be it".

**I'll call out that for me required is when health officials have been given the go ahead not required as by my mask mandate because those may run out much sooner than health officials want as they are tied to state of emergencies, new laws in my state, etc.

 

[Mermaid02]

As others have said, I think a lot of this is because sick kids aren't going to school and sick adults aren't going to work. I know when I worked (in a surgeon's office ironically) the powers that be said, "Don't come to work if you are sick." but if you actually called out they didn't like it one bit.

 

[aprilchem]

There is flu in my area; my DH's supervisor's entire family tested positive for both flu and COVID last week. They are pretty sick.

Personally, though, I haven't been sick since we went on lockdown last month, not even a sniffle. Neither have any of my kids (who are home with me). We are doing pretty well with the social distancing, I guess!

 

[mom2rtk]

We should. But we’re way to selfish.

So I can assume you'll be masking up every November through March then?

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree with the reasons stated so far. Mostly that the things that mitigate against Covid do the same for the flu.

But a couple other factors are also at play. Flu generally circulates around the world by air travel. International travel is much lower this year, so less circulation.

Also, since flu has similar symptoms to Covid, people are less likely to leave the house to go get a flu test. Even if I tested for Covid and it was negative, I wouldn't want to go show up at Urgent Care with a lot of other symptomatic people and potentially expose myself to Covid.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I agree with the reasons stated so far. Mostly that the things that mitigate against Covid do the same for the flu.

But a couple other factors are also at play. Flu generally circulates around the world by air travel. International travel is much lower this year, so less circulation.

Also, since flu has similar symptoms to Covid, people are less likely to leave the house to go get a flu test. Even if I tested for Covid and it was negative, I wouldn't want to go show up at Urgent Care with a lot of other symptomatic people and potentially expose myself to Covid.

Or wait in line, in the cold, outside, when you already feel like crap. Urgent cares here are mobbed. I think because family docs are refusing to see people that are sick. My coworker had to fight with her sons pediatrician just to be seen. They kept telling her they won’t see anyone with covid like symptoms. She insisted her son had to be seen. They finally gave in and her son had strep. This went on for days.

 

[RamblingMad]

So I can assume you'll be masking up every November through March then?

If it works, no reason not too. Masks don't bother me.

And most people are ugly, so I'd rather see people wearing masks anyway.

 

[MrsBooch]

If it works, no reason not too. Masks don't bother me.

And most people are ugly, so I'd rather see people wearing masks anyway.

how unnecessarily rude.

 

[Brett Wyman]

So I can assume you'll be masking up every November through March then?

Id personally love to.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Id personally love to.

But will you ?