system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If we quarantined everybody from one another for a few days would that eliminate cold/flu?

For 3 days everyone in the world cancels all travel plans, stocks up on food and water, and hides away. Obviously this would really mess up the economy ...but would it be feasible? If not on a world scale then maybe by country or region? If 3 days isn't enough time then how long would something like this take? Alternative idea is if we declared certain days out of the year when everyone was required to wear protective masks... Could something like this put an end to the common cold/flu viruses?
gpt
Common cold is different from flu (influenza).

Viruses that cause  common cold are most infections during first 2-3 days of symptoms but there can be infections before and long after symptoms have disappeared. 

Influenza virus can persist on banknotes up to 17 days. There will be also continuous mutations and new strains  transfer from animals like birds and pigs to humans. 

Small isolated populations, like astronauts, can eliminate these viruses with high probability. Zero gravity weakens immune system and astronauts are  quarantined for little less than a week before each mission.