Health Infographic

Flu Prevention During Coronavirus Pandemic: Infographic

Fall and winter months bring the flu season. Here is what you need to know to help protect you and your family from the flu and COVID-19.

Prevention

Flu shot

A flu shot protects you and your family from most strains of the flu.
Physical distancing, mask wearing, frequent hand washing

These important safety measures help prevent COVID-19 and the flu.

Symptoms

Flu and COVID-19 can have similar symptoms. Call a doctor or health care center if you have any of these symptoms:

Stuffy or runny nose, cough, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat or headache
Fever or chills, muscle or body aches, new fatigue/feeling tired or without energy
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Icon showing a sick woman with a cold press on her head

What to Expect

Flu

Fever and aches should end within five days. Coughing and fatigue/feeling tired or not having energy can last about two weeks. See your doctor if symptoms get worse. Severe cases may lead to hospitalization or death.
COVID-19

Some people may never have symptoms. Recovery can take up to two weeks for mild cases or six weeks or more for severe cases. COVID-19 may also lead to lasting organ damage, hospitalization or death.

Treatment

Flu

Treatments include rest, fluids, a fever reducer, such as acetaminophen, and an antiviral medicine to reduce the amount of time you have the flu and prevent complications.
COVID-19

Rest, a fever reducer and cough medicine help treat mild cases. More serious cases may require hospitalization, breathing support with a ventilator or other therapies.

Complications

Flu

Flu can turn into pneumonia, and very severe cases can be fatal.
COVID-19

This disease can result in pneumonia and lasting damage to your lungs, kidneys, heart and brain. COVID-19 can be fatal.*

Cause

Flu

It is caused by several different influenza viruses that change each year, which is why there is a new vaccine each flu season.
COVID-19

The disease is caused by the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which emerged late in 2019.

*More research is needed, but experts currently believe that the death rate of COVID-19 could be 10 times higher (or more) than most strains of the flu.