Health system considerations: when influenza meets COVID-19: preparedness and response measures when COVID-19, influenza and acute respiratory infections coincide in the WHO European Region, revised version December 2020

Overview

Preparedness and response measures when COVID-19, influenza and acute respiratory infections coincide in the WHO European Region. At the time of writing, there has been a resurgence of cases in many countries, especially as restrictive public health and social measures (‎PHSM)‎ were eased to help restart economic and societal activity. This upsurge in cases is a cause for concern and countries in the WHO European Region have started re-implementing restrictions. But as COVID-19 will continue into the autumn and winter, the impending threat of seasonal influenza, influenza-like infections (‎ILIs)‎ and pneumonia in the northern hemisphere will further challenge already overstretched health systems, raising new issues in managing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (‎SARS-CoV-2)‎ and resulting COVID-19. These challenges are expected to continue until effective vaccines and antiviral treatments become available.