Return of the masks

Now health chiefs say face coverings should be BROUGHT BACK and anyone feeling ill should ‘stay at home’ in echo of pandemic era - as medics claim the NHS is under more pressure than at the height of COVID

Unwell adults should stay at home and wear a mask if they have to go outside, health chiefs said today amid warnings the NHS is facing more pressure than it did during the peak of the pandemic.

The advice, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, also urges parents to keep their child out of school or nursery if they are ill and have a high temperature — classed as 38C or more.

The actions will help minimise the spread of COVID, flu and scarlet fever which are ‘circulating at high levels’ and are ‘likely’ to keep rising in the coming weeks, it said.

‘Situation much worse than the darkest days of COVID’

It comes amid stark warnings that the delays for care caused by the NHS crisis are killing 500 patients every week, with top doctors telling Britons that the situation is ‘much worse’ than the darkest days of the Covid pandemic.

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said adults should ‘try to stay home when unwell’.

Those that do have to go out should ‘wear a face covering’, she said. Sick Britons were also told not to visit healthcare setting ‘unless urgent’ and avoid vulnerable people. Professor Hopkins said: ‘It’s important to minimise the spread of infection in schools and other education and childcare settings as much as possible.’

The ‘back-to-school advice’ also told parents to keep their child out of school or nursery if they have a high temperature.

Professor Hopkins said: ‘If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has resolved.’

She also urged parents to teach youngsters good hand hygiene by practicing regular handwashing at home with soap and warm water.

Children should also be told to catch coughs and sneezes in tissues and then bin them to help stop illness from spreading, Professor Hopkins said.

The UKHSA also urged parents to ensure eligible children — which includes all primary school children, some secondary children and those aged two and three on August 31 2022 — get a flu vaccine.

Latest data shows just 48 per cent of primary school children had received a flu vaccine by November despite hospitalisation rates due to the virus remaining high.

Professor Hopkins said: ‘Flu vaccination is still available for all eligible groups and is the best protection against the virus.