CLEVELAND — Angela Latina is a pharmacist at Drug Mart in Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland. She said there are a few reasons why the number of flu cases is down. For starters, the precautions we're taking for the pandemic are a contributing factor.

What You Need To Know

  • Health officials contribute social distancing and wearing masks to the decrease in flu cases

  • Chief Medical Officer of the Ohio Department of Health Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said this time last year, there were around 5,500 flu cases

  • Officials still recommend getting a flu shot

"The fact that we're social distancing and physical distancing from others, (and) people are washing their hands more just being more conscious," said Latina.

Latina also said changes in the way people are traveling are also impacting the number of cases.

"Also with COVID, people aren't traveling as much domestically and internationally. I think that also is playing a factor in decreasing those flu cases," Latina said.

A third reason Latina gave for the decrease is centered around kids.

"Kids aren't fully back in person in classes right now, and I think that can also lower the spread since kids are usually one of the bigger spreaders of the flu," Latina said.

In a recent briefing with Gov. Mike DeWine, Chief Medical Officer of the Ohio Department of Health Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said this time last year there were around 5,500 flu cases in the state of Ohio, but this year the state hasn't hit 100 flu cases. The Centers for Disease Control still recommends getting a flu shot even as cases trend downward.

"You definitely can still get one. It is later in the season than normal to get a flu shot but they are still available at least here at our location and yeah people still can come in and get it," said Latina.​