Huge drop in flu cases in Victoria

The coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing measures have led to a 70 per cent drop in flu cases in Victoria compared with last year.

The coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing measures have led to a 70 per cent drop in flu cases in Victoria compared with last year.

More than 150 Victorians died from the flu last year, but in the five months to May 31 this year there were no flu-related deaths, the Herald Sun reports.

In that time there were just 4500 confirmed flu cases, compared with 15,358 in the same period last year – a reduction of 70 per cent.

“After a horror flu season last year this is good news and we hope these numbers continue to stay low as Victorians follow the current restrictions in place and stay home,” Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told the newspaper.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said, “With more awareness than ever before around hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette, we hope these numbers stay low.”

DROP IN CASES

Victoria has recorded 279 new cases of coronavirus as the numbers across the state continue to stabilise under stage four restrictions.

The Department of Health and Human Services made the update on Sunday after revealing there had been a “slight delay” in processing tests overnight.

A further 16 people died in the 24 hours to Sunday.

Australia recorded a total of 23,035 confirmed coronavirus cases and 379 deaths as of Saturday.

Victorian chief medical officer Professor Brett Sutton on Saturday said it appeared there had been

However, he did warn that some people were still going out after they developed symptoms.

New figures also show Australia has 14.9 deaths per million people, 4.6 in New Zealand, 508.9 in the US, and 689.3 in the United Kingdom.

a “stabilisation” of the state’s numbers.