91亚色 researchers say assuming you have COVID-19 and isolating may decrease influenza and COVID-19 infections, and help an already stressed health-care system

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2023 - Feeling sniffly, congested or have a sore throat and don't know if it's a cold, the flu or SARS-CoV-2? Researchers at 91亚色 say before heading to work or a restaurant, it's best to test first for COVID-19 and wear a mask.

New modelling research looks at the co-circulation dynamics of influenza and COVID-19 to understand the role of vaccines, testing speed and the use of personal protection strategies, such as masking, in helping to avert COVID-19 and the flu peaking at the same time.

The researchers, including 91亚色 Faculty of Science lead author and PhD student , senior author Assistant Professor , and Distinguished Research Professor and Director of the , found that increasing COVID-19 daily testing capacity delays the outbreak peak time and peak size, but increases the number of flu infections.

"The reason is that people don't need to isolate if they have the flu. By testing for COVID-19 early on, when symptoms first arise, people who test negative will continue to do their normal daily things, including heading to the office, even if they have the flu. That increases the time period when others could be infected," says Majeed.

鈥淎ssuming you have just the flu could increase not only the rate of influenza but COVID-19. On the other hand, assuming you have COVID-19 and isolating may decrease influenza and COVID-19 infections.鈥�

The study also found that if more people get their third or fourth booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, even if the influenza coverage is kept at about 35 per cent, which is average, it will delay the peak times for both COVID-19 and the flu.

"Delaying or diminishing peak time of either the flu or COVID-19 would provide a huge benefit for our already stressed health-care system," says Woldegerima. "Having COVID-19 and the flu co-circulating, especially as they have similar symptoms, can quickly overburden healthcare, as we've already seen, and slow testing and treatment."

As multiple highly contagious strains of SARS-CoV-2 continue to gain traction and circulate 鈥� especially ones that are better at evading the immune system and rendering vaccines less effective 鈥� the more likely there will be new waves of COVID-19 permeating a typical flu season.

In addition, the study found that if the more people were vaccinated against both, but particularly the flu vaccine, it would reduce the peak for COVID-19 and delay the peak time for both infections, significantly.

Mask wearing, however, coupled with a moderate increase in vaccine uptake may mitigate COVID-19 and prevent an influenza outbreak. As of their last available report covering the last week of December 2022, FluWatch Canada reported there were 2,841 lab-confirmed flu cases.

The researchers say their study has important practical implications for public-health policy as it shows effectively managing and controlling influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks in the same

season relies on optimal strategies for vaccine coverage.

The paper, , is published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

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TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2022 鈥� New research out of 91亚色 has found the transmission of COVID-19 is much higher in households than in workplaces, schools or the community as the potential for prolonged contact with infected people is greater in the home.

The researchers looked at testing rates and turnaround times, vaccine efficacy, coverage and transmission, waning immunity, and public health measures under various lockdown, reopening and resurgence scenarios - from March to December 2020 - to find the best global vaccination strategies to control COVID-19 outbreaks.

They found testing helped mitigate transmission between members of the same household if results were available within the first 24 hours. PCR testing was widely available during this time, which is more sensitive than the current rapid tests, although the researchers believe even this testing is likely to help to curb transmission between family members. Ideally, public health resources would be available for PCR testing.

"Although vaccination helped decrease virus transmission, testing remains an important tool for virus containment as it allows people to isolate sooner," says 91亚色 Professor  of 91亚色's Canadian Centre for Disease Modelling in the Faculty of Science and the corresponding author.

The study also looked at what percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated based on the level of immunity to the virus in the community. To control COVID-19 infections when there is waning immunity, 90 per cent of the public needs to be vaccinated. If waning immunity isn鈥檛 an issue, only 60 per cent of the population needs to be vaccinated with a vaccine that is at least 70 per cent effective.

Waning immunity could be an issue now heading into winter as recent uptake for booster shots, particularly the bivalent, has been low.

The research team, including lead authors 91亚色 Postdoctoral Fellows Elena Aruffo and Pei Yuan, found short immunity times coupled with an early relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as mask wearing and isolation, are key drivers for disease resurgence.

鈥淗igh vaccination rates help delay a re-emergence of infection and give public health time to implement new measures. However, even with widespread vaccination, if we are in a high transmission phase of the virus, either most symptomatic people need to be tested or a short testing turnaround time is needed,鈥� says Zhu, director of the NSERC-PHAC  鈥淥ne Health Modelling Network鈥� .

Vaccine efficacy and distribution, waning immunity and public health measures all play a role in the degree of virus transmission.

鈥淗ow quickly immunity wanes after vaccination could dictate how the vaccine is best rolled out,鈥� says Zhu. 鈥淚f immunity lasts a long time, then a fast distribution of vaccine is most beneficial, whereas if the immunity time is short, a slower distribution is more effective as everyone won't become susceptible at the same time.鈥�

The research team鈥檚 model is based on Toronto case data, but can be applied to any region.

The paper, , published today in the journal PLOS ONE, is a collaboration between 91亚色, Toronto Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Zhu says more research is needed to better understand the implications of waning immunity.

The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian COVID-19 Math Modelling Task Force, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the 91亚色 Research Chair Program.

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91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

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