As the UK battles a surge in flu cases, questions are being asked about whether bringing back face masks could help stop the spread. Hospitals are seeing more and more cases, leading to worries from doctors about the pressure on the NHS.
Despite the fact that face coverings have been shown to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, many people are still hesitant to wear them. But should personal discomfort or inconvenience really be more important than public safety?
Should face masks be brought back to help curb the spread of flu? Have your say! Join in the conversation below.
With over 200 people already fighting the flu in intensive care units, there’s growing fear that the cold weather and the return to work and school could lead to a rise in cases.
The last flu season led to 14,500 extra deaths, and this year’s numbers are already higher. In the last week of December alone, England had 4,689 hospitalised flu patients, with the number going up to 5,074 by the end of the month – a big jump from the 1,190 recorded at the end of November.
Several UK hospitals have reintroduced mandatory face mask rules in clinical areas, echoing measures taken during the Covid pandemic. Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, East Surrey Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust are among those implementing safety measures such as compulsory face masks, hand washing, and visitor restrictions, according to reports.
Paula Gardner, interim chief nursing officer at Shrewsbury and Telford, said they are ‘requesting all patients, visitors, and staff to wear masks and observe proper hand hygiene. ‘ Last month, Lincolnshire hospitals also implemented mask regulations.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, warned that people showing symptoms should stay home and limit contact with others, especially vulnerable individuals, to slow the spread of the flu virus.
She added: “If you have symptoms and need to leave the house, our advice remains that you should wear a face covering. Washing hands regularly and using and disposing tissues in bins can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.”
Should face masks be brought back to help curb the spread of flu? Have your say! Join in the conversation below.