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Wearing masks could help limit the spread of winter bugs<\/p>\n
GUY BELL\/ALAMY<\/p>\n
Elkeles added: \u201cWe were all very good about infection control during Covid. And we really, really need to get back to that now.\u201d When asked if people who have a cold and are coughing should wear a mask in the office, he said: \u201cI think that would be very sensible to all their colleagues, or probably their colleagues would say, \u2018Please go home.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have really got to worry about the fact that this is a very nasty strain of flu. It spreads very easily. It\u2019s warm and wet out there and people need to be sensible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Downing Street said wearing a mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illness was \u201csomething people can consider\u201d .<\/p>\n
A No 10 spokesman said: \u201cThere is long-standing 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is neither new nor an instruction, but simply something people can consider when trying to limit the spread of winter respiratory illnesses. The best defence against flu is the vaccine, which is why we\u2019re ramping up our vaccination efforts this winter, with almost 17 million flu jabs<\/a> already delivered, which is 350,000 more than this time last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said she was \u201cstill slightly traumatised by all the mask wearing that we had to do during Covid\u201d. Asked by Sky News whether people should wear masks, she said: \u201cI don\u2019t think the government should be mandating anything. Let\u2019s have some common sense. I think people can make up their own minds. If you are really sick, it should be in bed. It should not be on public transport. I think that\u2019s more of a problem. But the truth is, many people are contagious before they realise that they\u2019re even ill. So I\u2019m not sure that it would work.\u201d<\/p>\n Elkeles said the peak of this flu season could be worse than previous winters, adding: \u201cWe 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\u2019t already had your flu vaccine and you\u2019re eligible, please go and take it.\u201d<\/p>\n A \u201cparticularly virulent\u201d strain of flu is taking hold<\/p>\n MARK LIDDELL\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n Elkeles added that there was the \u201creally big challenge\u201d of resident doctors \u2014 formerly known as junior doctors \u2014 going on strike next week when the NHS<\/a> is grappling with flu and other illnesses. He said he agreed with concerns from \u201creally, really senior doctors\u201d at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that the five-day walkout could harm patients.<\/p>\n The academy has made a rare intervention to de-escalate the row between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government, warning of a \u201cparticularly virulent flu taking hold\u201d. It issued a statement urging the two sides to \u201cend the painful dispute\u201d, and asking doctors to tell their employers if they plan to strike.<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/\/1fab9389-cdd1-42cd-9baf-955de5711987.jpg\")
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