A Welsh health board has asked families "to think twice" before visiting loved-ones in hospital following an increase in respiratory illnesses. The move by Swansea Bay University Health Board follows a significant jump of more than 170 cases of flu, Covid, and several other viral respiratory infections at its hospitals in the past week.
A health board spokesman said it had resulted in huge pressures on staff and services. Jennifer Davies, Deputy Director of Public Health in Swansea Bay, said: “Our infection control team are reporting continued increased rates of a range of respiratory infections including flu and Covid amongst others, along with diarrhoea and vomiting, affecting patients in our hospitals.
“If you are planning to visit friends or relatives in our hospitals and you are feeling unwell in any way, or are caring for anyone who is unwell, please stay at home and visit them when you are feeling better. We know how important it is to visit a relative or close friend who is in hospital, particularly at this time of year but we ask that if you have any respiratory symptoms or feel under the weather, even if you’re not testing positive for Covid, to please postpone your visit until you feel better.
