NHS leader Daniel Elkeles has urged people with flu or cold symptoms to wear masks in public spaces as the UK battles a severe "tidal wave" of illness. The chief executive of NHS Providers told Times Radio that warm, wet conditions combined with children still in school have created "perfect flu-spreading conditions" weeks before the typical winter peak.
Flu patients now occupy an average of 1,717 beds daily in England - 56 per cent higher than the same week last year. Critical care units are treating 69 flu patients daily, up from 39 in 2024. The surge has pushed multiple hospitals to declare critical incidents due to extreme pressure on services.
Schools across England and Wales are closing or restricting activities to curb the spread. St Martin's secondary school in Caerphilly shut down after more than 250 pupils and staff fell ill. Congleton High School in Cheshire closed for three days for deep cleaning. Wigton Moor Primary School in Leeds stopped children singing in assemblies to prevent transmission.
Call for Covid-era habits
Elkeles urged the public to revive infection control practices from the pandemic. «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 told Times Radio.
He stressed the severity of the outbreak. «We have really got to worry about the fact that this is a very nasty strain of flu. It spreads very easily. It's warm and wet out there and people need to be sensible,» Elkeles said.
The NHS leader also called for eligible people to get vaccinated immediately. «We really do need people to sit up and listen. And actually, we need to have a big debate probably after this flu season about how we prepare the public better for what happens every year. So if you haven't already had your flu vaccine and you're eligible, please go and take it,» he explained.
Strike compounds crisis
The outbreak coincides with planned industrial action by resident doctors from 17 to 22 December. Elkeles echoed concerns from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that the strike could severely harm patients during the peak illness period.
«It's not too late for resident doctors and the Government to find enough common ground in their conversations to say 'we are determined to resolve this dispute but the thing that is really, really going to damage the NHS and harm patients is having the strike next week. So let's not have the strike next week and let's carry on talking and get to a good place where resident doctors and the Government feel like there's a good solution,» he told Times Radio.
Dominant strain hits hard
The outbreak is driven by a drifted influenza A(H3N2) strain, dubbed "superflu" by some. The UK Health Security Agency confirms current flu vaccines provide good protection against the dominant strain despite its mutation.
Several hospitals have already reinstated mandatory mask requirements. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust declared critical incidents at four facilities. Whittington Health NHS Trust in London requires masks in its emergency department and high-risk clinical areas.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
