COVID-19 and flu season

Malls and casinos can now reopen — with limited capacity — in LA County. Breweries and wineries can resume outdoor operations too. New COVID-19 cases and deaths have declined since the peak this summer. But there could be a spike now that fall is here. Flu season is around the corner too.

“We haven’t had a flu season yet with COVID. We just don’t know how the two viruses will interact. We don’t know what will happen when someone is co-infected with both,” says Dr. Christina Ghaly of the LA County Department of Health Services.

However, she’s optimistic. “If people have been wearing their face coverings, they’re washing their hands more, they’re keeping their distance, those same things that help prevent transmission of COVID can help prevent transmission of the flu. And combined with vaccination, we’re optimistic that potentially the flu season can remain mild this year.”