Health Officials Say Drop In Local Flu Cases Can Be Attributed To Masks And Other COVID Prevention Methods

Local health officials say they are seeing a significant decrease in influenza cases this season.  Memorial Health System says, compared to last year, the number of flu cases they are seeing so far is dramatically decreased.  From October last year through yesterday, Memorial has only had six people hospitalized with the flu across five hospitals compared to nearly one hundred over that time last season.  Health officials attribute the decrease, at least in part, to the extra precautions being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19, including masks in public.