Will COVID be Treated Like Common Flu in the Future?

What Future Does Covid-19 Hold for Us?

Two steps forward, and then two steps backwards; that’s the reaction of everyone when it comes to Covid-19 cases. Just as the Delta variant seemed to be sliding down, the Omicron variant emerged from nowhere and took the entire world by surprise. When will the Covid-19 pandemic end? You must be thinking the same thing, and you aren’t the only one. But, the Omicron variant reminded us of the rapid mutation ability of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, and therefore, we should expect new variants to appear faster than before. So you must be thinking – will we forever remain in lockdown? Can we never travel like before? To answer your question, you will be required to perform a lateral flow test for travel.

Is Covid-19 Similar to Influenza?

Can you differentiate regular flu from Covid-19 just by looking at the symptoms? No, it’s challenging to tell which is which just by looking at them. Although influenza and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory diseases, they are caused by different viruses. While the influenza virus causes influenza (regular flu), Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Moreover, Covid-19 spreads faster than normal flu and is known to cause more severe illness in people. People affected with Covid-19 are known to show symptoms after a long time and therefore remain contagious for the period in-between. Therefore, to detect the illness correctly, proper testing is mandatory.

Common Symptoms between Covid-19 and Flu

Let’s closely look at the various similarities exhibited by both the Covid-19 and the normal flu virus. Both illnesses can have varying degrees of symptoms or be asymptotic. The common symptoms between both of them are:

● Fever with chills
● Sore throat and cough
● Difficulty in breathing
● Muscle pain and body aches
● Vomiting and diarrhoea
● Loss of taste

How the Viruses Spread

Both Covid-19 and flu spread from person to person between people in close contact with one another (within about 2 metres). Both of them spread mainly via large and small particles containing the viruses that get expelled from people when they sneeze, cough, or talk. These particles end up in the mouths or noses of nearby people who inhale them. Even though the virus primarily spreads through inhalation, some people may also get affected by touching another person or a surface or object that has the virus present on it. When they subsequently touch their mouths or rub their noses, they get infected with the virus. Both normal flu and Covid-19 can spread to other people before showing symptoms.

What are the Complications Resulting from Covid-19 and Flu?

Both these viruses cause some serious complications in people, some of which can be life-threatening. People exhibiting mild symptoms can recover while staying at home, but they need to be hospitalised if the symptoms are severe. Let’s take a look at some of the complications that both these viruses can cause.

● Pneumonia
● Respiratory Failure
● Accumulation of fluid in lungs
● Cardiac arrests and strokes
● Multi-organ failure
● Inflammation of heart, brain, or muscle tissues
● Death

How Can You Avoid Getting Covid-19 or Flu?

No matter which virus you get affected with, getting vaccinated is of prime importance. Some of the precautions you can take are:

● Avoid large gatherings and events as they serve as hotspots for virus outspread.
● Avoid very close contact with people you don’t live with if your immunity is low. Maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres when meeting with such people.
● Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use an alcohol-based sanitiser containing 60% alcohol when outside.
● Wear a face mask outdoors or in a common indoor public space.
● Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
● Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose unnecessarily with your hands.
● Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, electronic gadgets, and others daily.

Conclusion

Some scientists still believe that eliminating the coronavirus from all the countries is still possible. However, only time will tell how much of that can be actually believed.