If masking was ineffective, why was the 2020 influenza season virtually non-existent in both northern and South hemispheres where masking was required?
Clearly masks helped reduce flu, but also simply being more socially distanced in general.
Of course, many people have a hard time thinking deeply about things like this. Many actually have cited the lack of flu cases as proof of misclassification of everything to covid. But since we know flu is much less contagious than covid, it makes sense that mitigation measure like masks and social distancing were simply more effective on less contagious viruses.
Given that medical tests for influenza have existed for a long time, and are and have been routinely given for hospital admissions, I think we can discard the misclassification of everything to covid theory.
Of course, many people have a hard time thinking deeply about things like this. Many actually have cited the lack of flu cases as proof of misclassification of everything to covid. But since we know flu is much less contagious than covid, it makes sense that mitigation measure like masks and social distancing were simply more effective on less contagious viruses.