New Year public health guidance to deal with ‘twindemic’

It comes after the NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis said on 30 December that latest figures showed “our fears of a twindemic have been realised”, with flu cases up seven fold in a month, and Covid cases driving up the number of NHS staff absences.

Flu is increasing the number of hospital admissions in people aged over 85 and children under 5. There have also been rising cases of very elderly people needing hospital care for Covid.

The UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, Professor Susan Hopkins, called on people to take action to protect education settings, healthcare settings and whole communities, by:

• Keeping any unwell children who have fevers, off school or nursery until they are better

• Teaching children about good hand hygiene and to throw away used tissues

• Trying to staying at home if you’re an unwell adult, or wear a face covering if you have to go out

• Avoiding visits to healthcare settings or vulnerable people unless it’s urgent

• Getting a flu vaccination if you’re eligible; rates are still low in young children.