Doctors say controlling the spread of the flu will be even more important during the coronavirus pandemic to keep from overwhelming the health care system.

COVID-19 can show unique symptoms like a lost sense of taste, but other symptoms like aches, fever, and difficulty breathing are the same as the flu. Dr. Katie Imborek  is a family medicine physician with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. While a flu shot does not protect against COVID-19, Imborek says if hospitals are treating fewer cases of the flu, there will be more resources to treat severe cases of the coronavirus.