Influenza infection rates plummet as a result of COVID-19 restrictions

Flu infection rates have fallen dramatically since social distancing and travel restrictions were introduced in the state. See the surprising number of cases confirmed since coronavirus >>

SOCIAL and travel restrictions introduced in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic have seen influenza infection rates nosedive, with Tasmania recording just three cases between April 5 and May 3.

Nationally there were just 229 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded across Australia in April, compared to more than 18,700 last year.

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Tasmania is following the national trend with rates here also down almost 80 per cent.

The state recorded 155 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu between January 1 and May 3, compared to 681 last year.

“This decline in notifications coincided with the physical distancing policies implemented during March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Health Department said in its most recent influenza update.

The number of tests conducted in Tasmania is in line with past years and peaked in April.

Last year Australia recorded its worst flu season on record with more than 310,000 people struck down.

Locally the rate of infection was three times higher in 2019 than the year before.

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Australia’s flu season peaks in winter, but cases usually start to build earlier as travellers from the northern hemisphere bring the virus into the country.