Should masks be reintroduced to stop the spread of winter illnesses?
The UK Health Security Agency has urged adults to stay at home if they are ill
Across the UK, wearing a face mask is no longer required by law but with the rise of ‘flu, with Covid doing the rounds again, and an overwhelmed NHS, some are advocating for its return in all public places.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said people feeling ill should avoid going out and visiting vulnerable people unless it’s urgent.
She added that mask-wearing was advisable, and called on parents to do whatever possible to prevent flu, Covid, and Strep A from sweeping through schools.
It comes as the number of people in the UK estimated to have Covid last week hit two million.
Royal College of Emergency Medicine chief Dr Adrian Boyle said this winter was likely to be the worst on record for A&E wait times, as hospitals were hit with rocketing demand driven by flu, Covid, and Strep A.
The latest recommendation from the Government ‘if you feel ill then you should wear a mask’, although good advice, perhaps does not go far enough.
Leaving it to individual choice may not be sufficient to stem the tide and help our beleaguered NHS tackle the crisis.
Do you think the government should make mask-wearing compulsory again? Or do you believe the general public is sensible enough to stay at home and wear a mask in public if feeling unwell? Have you been wearing a face mask?
Melina - Assistant Editor
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