Public Urged to Wear Face Masks Amid Flu Season “Like the Covid Period”

It’s more than five years since the Covid lockdowns, but it seems the powers that be haven’t forgotten how much they enjoyed telling us all what to do in the name of public health. As we enter flu season, boffins at the UK Health Security Agency are again urging the public to don face masks “when unwell”. Are lockdowns next? The Telegraph has more.

Face masks should be worn in public by anyone feeling ill during a surge in flu cases, health officials have said.

Experts at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have urged people to “consider wearing a mask” if they have symptoms.

Some NHS hospitals have also told patients with flu-like symptoms to stay away altogether to help limit the spread.

A “tidal wave” of flu has already left 10 times as many patients in hospital compared with this time two years ago.

The public health body said “face coverings continue to be a useful tool in limiting the spread of respiratory viruses in some situations”.

“Wearing a well-fitting mask when unwell can reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected with a respiratory infection,” officials said.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “We expect to see these viruses circulating more widely in the lead-up to Christmas and more people getting sick – threatening a potential peak over the festive period and into the New Year.”

Giving advice on how to “flu-proof your festivities”, Dr Bernal added: “Wash your hands regularly, keep indoor spaces well-ventilated and if you need to go out while unwell, consider wearing a face mask.”

Mandatory face masks were dropped in 2022 from official guidance after the pandemic with individual NHS trusts now able to decide if and when they should be used depending on local infections and pressure on hospitals.

Flu cases have surged to a record high, with the elderly expected to be hardest hit over Christmas.

Those people eligible for flu jabs have been urged to come forward as soon as possible.

Dr Bernal said: “Now is your last chance if eligible to help get protected before Christmas.”

The rates of patients aged over 85 in hospital have doubled in the past week, and figures show an average of 1,717 patients were admitted to a hospital bed every day last week because of flu – the highest on record for this time of year.

[…]

Sir Jim Mackey, the chief of NHS England, warned that the health service was facing pressures that “in a lot of ways will be like the Covid period”.

He said it was “reasonable to assume” flu patients would take up between 5,000 and 8,000 hospital beds each day by next week, far higher than the previous peak last January of 5,408.

Worth reading in full.

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Heretic
Heretic
4 months ago

This is just mind-boggling, showing that the Satanic Globalists have completely run out of ideas, and are falling back on their now-discredited Covidhoax farce… again.

chriswatch
chriswatch
4 months ago
Reply to  Heretic

Normally, common sense keeps us from falling a second time to a confidence trick?

JXB
JXB
4 months ago
Reply to  chriswatch

Yet there are still long queues outside pharmacies for Covid jabs.

GroundhogDayAgain
4 months ago

Two words. The second one is “off”

I will never wear a face nappy.

huxleypiggles
4 months ago

Never wore one last time and I was right all along. Won’t be wearing one if they ever chance their arm again.

The Real Engineer
The Real Engineer
4 months ago

I like the 3 word version * Right Off!

Jack the dog
Jack the dog
4 months ago

Could it be that lots of people’s immune systems have been holed below the waterline by pointless covid non-vaccines and endless f££king boosters, ineffective flu jabs etc?

Advice should be go home rest consume vit D, zinc, vit C and an abundance of tea, and wait till it clears.

The most stupid place to go is a&e.

And wearing a mask means you should be at home resting.

FFS.

Roy Everrett
Roy Everrett
4 months ago
Reply to  Jack the dog

I’m waiting to find out if the IgG4 response is attributable to the vaccine or not. The theory is that repeated exposure to covid spike protein causes one’s immune system to re-classify as Mostly Harmless, and therefore to stop tackling it.

Hound of Heaven
Hound of Heaven
4 months ago

I have no objection to most politicians wearing face coverings. Reform excepted.

Boomer Bloke
4 months ago

Especially David Lammy, if he can find one big enough.

ComradeSvelte
ComradeSvelte
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

A plastic bag would be more suitable…

Boomer Bloke
4 months ago
Reply to  ComradeSvelte

Two, he is a double bagger.

JXB
JXB
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

You mean that’s his real face!

iansn
4 months ago

‘A “tidal wave” of flu has already left 10 times as many patients in hospital compared with this time two years ago’ Why two years ago? Well that’s because its about the same as last year.
Most people will miss the two years ago and hear ten times as many and think last year. People issuing these press briefing know exactly what they are say to have maximum fear effect. One of my frit Scots mates has already locked himself up because he has a bit of a cough. It really is pathetic.

I hate all of these ‘just to be safe’ Karens.

And worth noting, they show the flu figures back to 2017, but only go back to 2024 for the covvies.

JXB
JXB
4 months ago
Reply to  iansn

And two years ago a large swathe of the elderly most susceptible to respiratory viruses had been culled, either by Covid or the “pandemic” measures.

Plus, by quarantining (as half-arsed as it was) people during the lockdowns and preventing the natural circulation of Winter viruses, natural acquired immunity to them did not occur.

But ‘flu virus epidemics have always been cyclic, some years severe and other years not.

RW
RW
4 months ago

Trying to limit the spread of respiratory viruses by wearing braided waste baskets over one’s head wouldn’t even be sensible if there was a chance that it’ll actually work. Everyone’s going to contact flu during the flu season and the earlier you get it, the earlier it’ll be over. Especially, as it’s going to be a harmless nuisance or at all unnoticable in almost all cases.

stewart
4 months ago
Reply to  RW

They want to flatten the curve.

RW
RW
4 months ago
Reply to  stewart

The purpose of the population is not to keep the NHS healthy and claims that sombreros must be flattened ought to be regarded as anti-Mexican hate crimes.

Boomer Bloke
4 months ago
Reply to  RW

Or anti Mexican hat crimes…

RW
RW
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

🙂

Hound of Heaven
Hound of Heaven
4 months ago
Reply to  stewart

And put us back in our bubbles.

JXB
JXB
4 months ago
Reply to  RW

The MRC Common Cold Research Unit ran from 1946 to 1990 investigating respiratory viruses looking for cures and vaccines to no avail. They recruited volunteers to be infected, then various treatments tried out.

It is odd they never discovered in more than 40 years of research that medical masks were effective against infection and transmission of viruses.

Yet between 11:59 on 03 June and 12:01 04 June 2020 evidence suddenly emerged that they were effective. Amazing – 40 years of research failed to achieve what was discovered in just two minutes.

The Real Engineer
The Real Engineer
4 months ago
Reply to  JXB

It was never discovered! Just a supposition to suit the press barrage of “do something” even if it does zero good or causes actual harm. The actual harm last time they tried is immense.

stewart
4 months ago

Flu jabs and masks neither of which stop people getting the flu.

Yeah, let’s have another round of insane behaviour. Why not. Maybe they can get the population to finally become completely certifiably mad.

Boomer Bloke
4 months ago

“The public health body said “face coverings continue to be a useful tool in limiting the spread of respiratory viruses in some situations”.” I thought this mendacious pseudo scientific nonsense had been comprehensively debunked long ago. Oh wait, it’s the government…

Purpleone
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

….

IMG_7799
Roy Everrett
Roy Everrett
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

Another public health body said: (UK Department of Health, 2011, p. 38). “Although there is a perception that the wearing of face masks by the public in the community and household setting may be beneficial, there is in fact very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use in this setting. (UK Department of Health, 2011, p. 37).” These days of pseudo-science, evidence does not count; “showing one cares” is more important. 

JXB
JXB
4 months ago
Reply to  Boomer Bloke

And note the change “limiting” not “stopping” spread and in “some” situations. By implication if only “some” situations, then useless in most situations, unlike previously when they worked everywhere.

They really are forked-tongued, slithy toves.

Boomer Bloke
4 months ago
Reply to  JXB

Brillig!

transmissionofflame
4 months ago

Excellent – this will highlight those for whom there is absolutely no hope.

Roy Everrett
Roy Everrett
4 months ago

In 1954 a bus conductor in Oldham became the first UK victim of The Dreaded Lurgi. It was cured by mass distribution of expensive brass instruments owned by a powerful monopoly. The allegory writes itself! https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/scripts/lurgi.html

transmissionofflame
4 months ago
Reply to  Roy Everrett

I wonder what dear old Spike would have made of Covid and our times in general
I like to think he’d have taken the piss without mercy

psychedelia smith
4 months ago

And it’s for the rest of us to just relentlessly keep posting this video around..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LyhCWxxPqFY&pp=0gcJCR4Bo7VqN5tD

The Real Engineer
The Real Engineer
4 months ago

Great video. So true!

Jessica Hockett
Jessica Hockett
4 months ago

“A “tidal wave” of flu has already left 10 times as many patients in hospital compared with this time two years ago.”

Find out what the testing requirements are. The U.S. saw increased PCR flu testing with each season from 2009 onward.

My guess is that most everyone admitted to the hospital during the flu [shot] season is being tested with an RVP.

James.M
James.M
4 months ago

Any opportunity to psychologically test the public’s level of brainwashing is a useful measure to see how much more ‘nudging’ they need to do to keep the sheep compliant.

wryobserver
wryobserver
4 months ago

A mask is not enough. You should also have to carry a bell to ring as you shout “Unclean! Unclean!” Or, if you are that unwell, stay at home?

Albert Paul
Albert Paul
4 months ago

Face masks ! Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me

Corky Ringspot
4 months ago

I read somewhere – here maybe? – that the flu jab is effective against something like 10% of flu variants anyway; is that correct?

Peter W
Peter W
4 months ago

The “highest eva” would seem to be a projected figure (guesswork) and probably ignoring the inevitable bell shape of infections in a season that started a bit earlier.

Also not so scary if we were told that there are 1900 hospitals.

varmint
4 months ago

If you really have the FLU, you won’t be going anywhere to need a mask. You will be in bed cursing your mother for having given you birth.

Hester
Hester
4 months ago

What percentage of people with the flu have had their magical flu jabs and covid injections I wonder? thats one statistic they won’t be revealing

SidewaysThinker
SidewaysThinker
4 months ago

Given Dr John Campbell’s recent podcast explaining that the (presumably latest) flu jab has an efficacy rate of MINUS 26.9% first of all, what do they expect if not an increase in the flu?!
And the idea that surgical splashguards can “contain” viral particles is beyond ludicrous for a science based medical professional. Is it a test to see how many will still comply?
I have absolutely no trust in these people.

Hound of Heaven
Hound of Heaven
4 months ago

Is covstalgia a word yet? Lots of it from the msm today.

Cosca
Cosca
4 months ago

Dear UKHSA,

Eff off you tw*ts.

Merry Christmas.

Rusty123
Rusty123
4 months ago

On a slightly different take, wpuld someone care to explain what hospitals are for, if not to care for the sick?, I mean we all know they get paid vast amounts of money(and still want more), but surely the whole point of hospitals, is for when people are ill?. And Im sure been proven that masks make your health worse, didn’t last time, wont this, sod the WHO!!.

coviture2020
coviture2020
4 months ago

Just like Remainers they dont learn

JXB
JXB
4 months ago

Face masks unless skin-tight, air-tight and with hepa-filters filtering inspiration and expiration are entirely useless in preventing airborne respiratory viruses which circulate by Brownian movement – the viruses have evolved to do this to be best adapted to reproduce successfully.

This has been known for about a hundred years.

The Real Engineer
The Real Engineer
4 months ago
Reply to  JXB

Even HEPA filters are unlikely to stop much virus. They are simply too small, less than 100 nm!

The Real Engineer
The Real Engineer
4 months ago

There are a number of people wearing fabric masks about. As they cannot be effective, they simply want to hide their identity to prevent them being arrested as they go about normal life. Virus particles are less than 100nm across, 1/6 of the wavelength of light, so can only be detected by electron microscope. The gaps in fabric are big enough to breathe through, and can easily be seen with the naked eye. I suggest well sealed plastic bags over the head might be effective, and would certainly remove these idiots permanently! I wonder who is suggesting the mask idea, they are obviously of zero intelligence, and probably members of the current Government.

Curio
Curio
4 months ago

Which section of DT should we believe? Its health editor Paul Nuki has just sent another Global Health warning telling us it’s a matter of time before we all get Bird Flu.