Call to comprehensively mitigate the impact of Covid, flu, and RSV

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-10-06 00:01

New Zealand

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A group of 16 New Zealand researchers say we should start treating illnesses such as influenza and RSV more like COVID-19, rather than the other way around. They call for a single, comprehensive mitigation strategy to tackle all serious respiratory infections, including key measures such as improving indoor air quality, increasing sick leave support, masking in healthcare settings and exploring the advantages and disadvantages of mandating masks on public transport, especially in winter. They say New Zealand delivered amongst the best pandemic responses in the world – saving an estimated 20,000 lives compared with the mortality rate seen in countries like the US. They say adopting a mitigation strategy covering other respiratory infections as well would be a valuable legacy of the pandemic.