Should people wear a mask in public if they feel unwell with flu?

"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 not to 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. And we were all very good about infection control during Covid. And we really, really need to get back to that now."

"There is longstanding 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. This is neither new nor an instruction but simply something people can consider when trying to limit the spread of winter respiratory illnesses. This advice, which stops short of saying people must wear a mask, tallies with what the UK Health Security Agency said last Thursday."

NHS trusts' chief executive said the UK is seeing a particularly nasty strain of flu and urged that anyone with flu or cold symptoms should wear a mask in public, including on public transport and in workplaces if they are well enough to attend. The chief executive said returning to Covid-era infection control habits when coughing or sneezing would reduce the chances of passing the virus to others. Downing Street said mask-wearing to prevent respiratory illness spread is an optional measure people can consider and that longstanding guidance already sets out measures to limit winter bugs. The UK Health Security Agency's advice aligns with that optional approach and recommends that people with flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, cough or fatigue take precautions to limit transmission.

Read at www.theguardian.com