At the end of 2019, 45 of 95 Tennessee counties had at least one positive influenza case.

In the last six weeks of 2020, only two of Tennessee's 95 counties recorded one or more flu cases.

TN seeing staggering decrease in flu cases compared to this time last year

Compelling evidence regarding masks, distancing, cleaning, travel.

But the numbers are compelling. This same week last year, the CDC reported widespread flu activity in nearly every US region, with "high" activity in 45 states. In an average year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with flu. So far this flu season, just 155 people confirmed to have influenza have ended up in the hospital.

Brammer said there is some evidence flu activity is picking up in parts of Asia that have eased the restrictions meant to control coronavirus.

"When they loosen up on those measures, flu comes back," she said.

There's hardly any flu this year. Coronavirus restrictions may be responsible

February is usually the peak of flu season, with doctors' offices and hospitals packed with suffering patients. But not this year. Flu has virtually disappeared from the U.S., with reports coming in at far lower levels than anything seen in decades.

The numbers are astonishing considering flu has long been the nation's biggest infectious disease threat. In recent years, it has been blamed for 600,000 to 800,000 annual hospitalizations and 50,000 to 60,000 deaths.

US has 'lowest flu season' on record during COVID pandemic