![]() Paul Griffin - an infectious diseases physician and associate professor at the University of Queensland - said communicating risk so that Australians could make informed choices remained a challenge. That's an approach that will continue in 2023, with a national COVID-19 plan outlining an approach based on an informed community taking the lead on protection, alongside vaccine supply certainty and a focus on taking the pressure off hospitals. One of the key changes in 2022 was a shift from government-imposed restrictions to personal responsibility. We'll still need 'the basics' in place to reduce the spread of the virus ![]() "No one wants to see happen but, from a population point of view, we're in an OK place at the moment," Dr Lydeamore said. It is not compulsory.Michael Lydeamore - an infectious diseases modeller from Monash University - said while there had been more COVID-19 deaths than anyone in the community would want in 2022, excess mortality estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were starting to come down again. The official added: “People can choose to wear a mask if they wish to. It remains health advice to the public – it is not mandatory.” I think that is pretty longstanding advice. Mr Sunak’s spokesman, asked for the Government’s opinion on the UKHSA’s guidance, said: “Obviously that’s advice they put out. However, Downing Street stressed that while the advice from health officials was “longstanding,” it was “not mandatory”. When Transport Secretary Mark Harper was asked on LBC whether he would follow such advice, he said that “wearing a mask is very sensible if you are ill”. “I welcome this new advice about people wearing masks and not going out if they’re ill, keeping children off school, because we need to do everything we can to avoid unnecessary illness.” ![]() The chaotic start to Sunak's 'small boats week' will not be reassuring for Tory MPs or voters 08 August, 2023 15 asylum seekers board Bibby Stockholm barge on first day 07 August, 2023 BritishVolt gigafactory deal 'in doubt' after overdue payment goes unpaid 07 August, 2023 The advice is not mandatory, but underlines concerns among experts that a “twindemic” of Covid and flu are putting hospitals under the biggest strain since the height of the pandemic. If adults do need to go out they are advised to wear a face mask, avoid healthcare settings and not visit vulnerable people. On Monday 2 January, Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser for the UKHSA, issued advice that should “wear a face covering” if they have to leave the house while feeling unwell.Ĭhildren who feel unwell and have a fever should stay off school, while adults who are ill should stay at home, the guidance says. We are working hard with the NHS to tackle the pressures faced this winter.” What is the current advice on face masks? “It would also make perfect sense to ask people who can work from home to do so if the NHS need us all to support them through this busy period of the year.”Ī spokeswoman for the UKHSA said that the introduction of any further measures “would sit with DHSC (Department for Health and Social Care)”.Ī DHSC spokesman told i: “It is inaccurate to say we are considering implementing any such measures. Ministers have ruled out any national lockdowns or school closures during the winter admissions crisis. ![]() I can’t imagine we’d be as lucky as that ever again.”īut if cases do rise, there is no indication that the UK will return to the mandatory lockdown restrictions in place for much of the Covid pandemic – here’s everything you need to know. He added: “We were incredibly well prepared in that sense. ![]() Professor John Edmunds, an infectious diseases expert at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “We were actually very lucky with Omicron because we had just started boosting the elderly and vulnerable.” Guidance for adults who feel ill to wear face masks in public is not mandatory (Photo: PA)Įarly research suggests it is both more infectious than the current dominant variant – Omicron BA.5 and its sublineages such as BQ.1 as well as being better at evading immunity.īut there is no evidence that XBB.1.5 is more severe than the BA.5 strain, so it should not lead to a higher proportion of infections turning serious.Ī leading health expert told i that the arrival of a variant of concern similar to the Omicron strain which arrived last winter would put the UK under “enormous pressure”. ![]()
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