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Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive
Test.
From the sufferer's perspective, not much difference. I've had 'em both. The flu several times over the years, and COVID last year. Not much fun but in all honesty I've been sicker with the flu. Several times.
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There are some significant differences. With the flu, it's not likely you'll lose your sense of smell or taste. That's not a common symptom of influenza. People who are VERY sick with influenza, still don't typically need to be intubated or ventilated, and their deaths, while unpleasant, are not typically caused by them drowning on their own mucus. With COVID, that is what kills you. The pneumonia that comes as an actual symptom of severe COVID infection.
If you are very sick with the flu, once you've recovered, you're recovered. Recovery might take awhile, depending on how sick you were, but it's over when it's over. Not always the case with COVID. Some people suffer permanent lung and/or heart damage from COVID-19. Some people lost their sense of taste and smell, and almost two years later now - still haven't gotten it back. Imagine eating something and not knowing that it's rotten or rancid, until you're puking your brains out an hour later. Not something I'd ever want to look forward to, having to scrutinize every morsel that goes into my mouth. Imagine not smelling smoke, if you're distracted in the house and the smoke hasn't triggered the alarm yet.
COVID-19 and the flu are similar - if you are NOT very sick from either. If you are very sick from either, they are very distinctly different from each other.