My goodness, no the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not an influenza virus of any kind. This has been public knowledge for years. Like the first SARS virus of 2002-4, it is caused by a virus from the large corona virus family, that also happens to include the far less dangerous common cold virus. Corona viruses are NOT all the same.
Influenza viruses similarly each have their own risks. Some are mild, others are more dangerous. Famously variants of the H1N1 responsible for the Spanish influenza and Swine Flu.
The flu and cold seasons were greatly diminished the last few years BECAUSE masks and social distancing work! As a matter of simple math, the measures work even more effectively against viruses with lower R-Naught (R0) values (IOW less contagious than SARS-CoV-2) like various influenza, parainfluenza, seasonal coronal virus (cold) rhino-enterovirus (RSV), metapneumovirus (hMPV) and others that cause flu-like symptoms.
If you did not know this, you really must reconsider your sources of news and health information or discuss it with your doctor.