England's Transport Secretary has recommended people get vaccinated to stem the impact of Covid-19, and also said wearing a mask is “sensible”.
Asked if he would wear a mask if he was ill with coronavirus, Mark Harper told LBC: “First of all you should stay at home if you think you have got Covid or you have got flu – actually the most sensible thing to do is to not go out and spread it.
“If you do go out, clearly wearing a mask is very sensible if you are ill.
“But we manage these illnesses now by vaccination.
“People should get vaccinated for Covid, they should also get a flu vaccination. We have seen very high levels of flu this winter.”
New travel restrictions will come into force from Thursday where people from China will need to test negative before being allowed to fly to the UK.
And the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued back-to-school advice amid high levels of flu, Covid-19 and invasive Strep A disease (iGas).
The advice includes simple steps that can minimise the spread of illness in education and childcare settings as well as the wider community.
It comes as figures released last week show that at least 30 children have now died in the UK from conditions related to iGas, which can cause scarlet fever.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said that children should stay home from school if they are unwell and have a fever.
“It’s important to minimise the spread of infection in schools and other education and childcare settings as much as possible,” she said.
“If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has resolved.
“Helping children to learn about the importance of good hand hygiene is also key, so practise regular handwashing at home with soap and warm water. Catching coughs and sneezes in tissues then binning them is another simple way to help stop illness from spreading.
“Adults should also try to stay home when unwell and if you do have to go out, wear a face covering. When unwell, don’t visit healthcare settings unless urgent, or visit vulnerable people.”
Prof Hopkins also recommended that young children receive flu vaccination.
“Remember that flu vaccination is still available for all eligible groups and is the best protection against the virus,” she said.
“We have seen a good uptake in older age groups but vaccination among young children remains low. Flu can be very unpleasant and in some cases can lead to more serious illness.
“Getting your child vaccinated protects them and others they come into contact with, and it’s still not too late.”
