COVID-19

INFLUENZA ("FLU")

Cause of Problem

Virus

Virus

Type of Disease

Respiratory Disease

Respiratory Disease

Symptom Severity Range

Without Symptoms (asymptomatic) to Severe Disease and Death

Without Symptoms (asymptomatic) to Severe Disease and Death

Transmission of Virus

By Aerosol Droplets or Contact

By Aerosol Droplets or Contact

Symptoms

• Fever (83-98%)
• Cough (76-82%)
• Muscle Aches (11-44%)
• Sore Throat
• Headaches
• Runny or Stuffy Nose
• Fatigue
• Vomiting[i]
• Loss of Smell [ii]

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Muscle Aches
• Headaches
• Runny or Stuffy Nose
• Fatigue
• Vomiting

Time between successive cases, infected person one to second person

5-6 days

3 days

Contagiousness Before Symptoms

COVID-19 infected people are contagious 1 to 2 days before symptoms, but this does not appear to be a major driver of transmission.

Flu infected people are contagious 1 day before symptoms and major driver of transmission.

Infection Rate (Basic reproduction number (R0))

1 infected person infects between 2 to 2.5 people

1 infected person infects 1.3 people

Children

Children less affected than adults.

Adults tend to infect children

Children affected same as adults.

Children tend to infect adults

Symptom severity

• 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic
• 15% are severe, requiring oxygen
• 5% are critical, requiring ventilation

• 94% of infections are mild or asymptomatic
• 5% are severe, requiring oxygen
• <1% are critical, requiring ventilation

Most at Risk

1. Age (65 +)
2. Those with underlying conditions

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Diabetes
• COPD
• Respiratory Disease

1. Children
2. Pregnant women
3. Age 65+
4. Those with underlying medical conditions and who are immunosuppressed

Mortality Rate

Current death rate 1.2 to 3.4%

(* Note: When COVID-19 testing increases, projected mortality rate 0.6 to 0.8%)

Current death rate <0.1%

Infected Population in US

Limited testing; number unknown.

About 8% of US population gets the Flu annually

Worldwide infections & Deaths

**Note Scientist Projection If social distancing fails, if no treatment, 10X death rate of flu[iii] then project 2.9 – 6.4 million deaths annually

Actual

1,000,000,000 infected with flu annually;

291,000-646,000 deaths from flu annually

Prevention Vaccine

No Vaccine available

First vaccine being tested; available expectation 12 to 18 months (Mid 2021)

Vaccine available annually

Prevention Methods

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid contact with sick people;
• Stay home when sick;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid contact with sick people;
• Stay home when sick;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.