Dr. Darmaan Aden is the chief executive officer of Palm Beach Acute Care Consultants and a board member with Seacoast Bank in West Palm Beach, Florida. A graduate of the St. Matthews School of Medicine, Dr. Darmaan Aden has closely followed the development of COVID safety protocols and the impact these protocols have had on flu cases in the United States.

Medical experts have discussed the benefits of following COVID-19 safety protocols to decrease the chances of catching the flu or a common cold, in addition to the coronavirus. Despite a few differences, COVID, influenza, and colds are all respiratory diseases that are transmitted through the same means. Droplet transmission and airborne transmission are the two primary forms of transmission.

Infected droplets do not travel through the air for very long, which is why keeping at least six feet between the nearest individual greatly reduces the chance of infection via droplets. In the case of COVID, medical professionals estimate more than 66 percent of transmission occurs through droplet transmission.

Masks, meanwhile, cut down on the number of droplets a person breathes into the atmosphere, particularly in areas where other people are within three to six feet of an infected person. Masks are particularly effective when it comes to stopping the larger droplets associated with COVID, the flu, and colds. That said, individuals should be aware that masks are more impactful when it comes to preventing the spread of an infection than in preventing contraction.

Finally, individuals should practice basic hygiene whether it is flu season or not, with an emphasis on regularly washing hands with warm water, soap, and disinfectant.