The symptoms are similar: Fever, body ache, cough.

In fact, people with those symptoms are first tested for the flu, according to Lt. Governor of Hawaii Josh Green, who is also an emergency room doctor.

"They could test positive for the flu and then we're in the clear," he said.

"But if they test negative for the flu and they're feeling that, everyone is asking themselves internally, doctors and patients alike, 'do I have COVID-19?'"

SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS:

- Fever

- Cough

- Shortness of breath

- Breathing difficulties

Globally, a startling 45 million people have been diagnosed with influenza since October and 46,000 of those have died.

Compare that with COVID-19: There are at least 93,000 infected, according to the World Health Organization, and at least 3,199 have died.

While the flu infects far more ? and kills more ? the death rate is less than 1%. The death rate from COVID-19 is currently listed as 3.4%, according to the WHO.