One possible explanation is that covid is much more contagious than the flu. So while all of the covid mitigations could be preventing the spread of flu, they aren't preventing the spread of covid.
I find it interesting in that the MSM media hysteria could be the biggest factor in hospital surges. Once a person has a pulmonary issue, they run to the hospital thinking that they are going to die because of all of the hysteria going around. Healthcare workers suffer from the same hysteria, perhaps even over-treating patients.
My GF had covid, had a hard time with it, but it was basically a bad flu. She had some lung issues while recovering, called her doctor who immediately told her to go to ER. She didn't, and once she got a round of antibiotics (we figured it was a secondary infection and found a doc that was more reasonable), she was fine. No hospital visit needed.
I had a bad flu type illness around 10 years ago. For a week or so, I had breathing issues: couldn't get a good a breath, was hard to breath, and every time I took a breath it felt like glass was in my lungs. I thought about seeing a doc, but I just got through it and I was fine. If that happened today with all the covid media hysteria, my pussy ass probably would have freaked out, thought I was going to die, and would have rushed to the ER in a panic that would have actually increased the breathing issues.