In March, as coronavirus widened its global sweep, one health statistic quickly flattened: influenza cases. In the Southern Hemisphere, flu season would have been just taking off, but cases were virtually nonexistent. “Never in my 40-year career have we ever seen rates … so low,” says Greg Poland, an influenza expert at the Mayo Clinic. Although researchers need to study the reasons further, several told Scientific American that coronavirus prevention measures—handwashing, mask wearing and social distancing—are working against flu transmission. If those measures continue, Poland says, countries could see the most dramatic drop in influenza cases in modern human history. U.S. health experts still recommend flu shots, however, because not everyone in the country is observing measures to contain the virus and because COVID-19 could perhaps be more threatening in
Coronavirus Hospitalizations Low At Southern Ocean Medical Center
MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Despite a recent spike in Ocean County coronavirus, there aren’t many patients with the virus at Southern Ocean Medical Center. In fact, the hospital only has one COVID-19 inpatient, a spokesperson told Patch on Tuesday afternoon.
Ocean County reported 2,241 new cases from Sept. 21 through Tuesday, bringing the area to 14,456 cases since the pandemic began. The Ocean County Health Department reported 108 new cases Sept. 11 — its first triple-digit day since May 27 — and has logged several triple-digit days since.
Despite this, there are several factors that could contribute to fewer hospitalizations in Southern Ocean, such as greater knowledge of the virus and more effective treatments, according to health officials.
“We’ve also been seeing many COVID-19 cases of the mild to moderate type in which people are recovering in a few days and not needing the longterm care,” said OCHD spokesperson Brian Lippai.
