An NHS leader has urged people experiencing flu or cold symptoms to wear masks in public places, as the UK grapples with a 'tidal wave' of illness. Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the country is facing a 'very nasty strain of flu' that has arrived earlier than normal, and advised wearing face coverings on public transport, similar to practices during the Covid pandemic.
Speaking to Times Radio, Elkeles said: 'When you were talking about anything like Covid, I think we need to get back into the habit that if you are coughing and sneezing, but you're not unwell enough to not go to work, then you must wear a mask when you're in public spaces, including on public transport, to stop the chances of you giving your virus to somebody else.' He added that infection control measures from the pandemic should be reinstated.
Downing Street responded by saying mask-wearing is 'something people can consider', but emphasised that it is not a mandate. A No 10 spokesperson stated: 'There is longstanding guidance in place for people on a range of measures they can consider taking to help limit the spread of winter bugs if they have flu-like symptoms. This is neither new nor an instruction but simply something people can consider.' The spokesperson highlighted that the best defence is the vaccine, with nearly 17 million flu jabs already delivered this winter.
The UK Health Security Agency also noted in a blog that 'masks continue to be a useful tool in limiting the spread of respiratory viruses in some situations'. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch rejected the idea, saying she is 'still slightly traumatised by all the mask-wearing that we had to do during Covid' and argued that people can make their own decisions.
Hospital data shows an average of 1,717 flu patients in beds each day in England, including 69 in critical care, a record level for this time of year.
