Doctors see fewer cases of influenza, common cold

Doctors have been treating fewer patients with common colds and seasonal influenza this year with experts crediting mitigation measures to keep COVID-19 at bay as having an impact on people’s overall health.
The Superintendent of Public Health, Charmaine Gauci said the number of people getting influenza, which is usually highest in January, has gone down this year because of the COVID-19 protocols in place.
However, according to general practitioners who spoke to Times of Malta, it is not just cases of influenza that have gone down but also common colds and other similar viruses that used to be common during the colder winter months.
They say there have been fewer patients suffering from viral gastroenteritis (commonly referred to as the stomach flu), for instance, a direct impact of frequent hand washing that has become the norm during the pandemic.
The health authorities have repeatedly said good hand hygiene is key to avoiding getting infected with COVID-19.

Mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing and the widespread use in the country of alcohol hand rub have also played a part, the doctors said.
According to one doctor, GPs in private clinics are seeing less than half the...