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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Do coronavirus countermeasures appear to crush ordinary flu infections?

By Mikayla Campbell
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YES

The Centers for Disease Control reported in September that steps taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus appear to have a dramatic effect on transmission of ordinary flu.

"Influenza virus circulation declined sharply within two weeks of the COVID-19 emergency declaration" in the U.S., the CDC said. After March 1, 2020, the CDC reports that lab tests confirming flu cases declined by 98% from earlier in the U.S. winter. During the summer, it said positive influenza testing in the U.S. reached a historical low, decreasing from less than 20% to 2.3%. The CDC observed the same trends in data from other Northern Hemisphere countries and in tropical regions. It noted that during their winter "Southern Hemisphere temperate climates have had virtually no influenza circulation," adding that "the consistent trends over time and place are compelling and biologically plausible."

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
CDC: Decreased influenza activity during the COVID-19 pandemic
World Health Organization: Global influenza program—update (November 9, 2020)
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.