Masks are being reintroduced in all areas of hospitals in Swansea Bay as the health board has admitted that respiratory viruses, including coronavirus, are circulating on most, if not all wards. Swansea Bay University Health Board has said it is currently seeing a sharp rise in confirmed cases of flu, Covid and several other viral respiratory infections across its hospitals.
It said there has been been "a big jump in a range of respiratory infections" every day over the past few days, rising from 31 confirmed cases on December 17 to 66 cases by December 22. The health board's infection control team has confirmed a range of respiratory viruses are "now highly likely to be circulating on most if not all wards".
It acknowledged in a statement that staff recognised the importance of visiting relatives and close friends in hospital, particularly during the festive season, but asked anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms or feeling under the weather to postpone their visit until they felt better. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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A statement from the health board reads: "While you may not have Covid, you may have another respiratory virus like flu which you could pass on to a vulnerable patient, and make them very poorly. We are also taking a number of measures to bring down infection rates, and a key one is re-introducing mask-wearing in all our wards, clinical areas and public areas, like corridors and receptions. Please abide by this at all times, and keep your nose and mouth fully covered with a mask or face-covering when in these areas."
Director of public health, Dr Keith Reid said: "We would ask those who are visiting relatives and friends in hospital not to attend our hospitals if they have fever, cough or sniffles to avoid spreading illness among patients. While this is a difficult ask, especially at this time of year, it’s vitally important that we do everything we can, together, to minimise flu and Covid in our hospitals.
“Covid and influenza rates are rising in our communities again and will rise further as people continue to mix over the holiday season. While Covid vaccination coverage of vulnerable groups is good following the autumn booster campaign the uptake of influenza vaccination has been lower. Vaccination remains available for eligible people through general practice and community pharmacies.”
People who do visit hospital are asked to wash their hands frequently and to use hand sanitiser before and after visiting a ward. If you do get a respiratory illness, the health board says you should follow simple measures like coughing or sneezing into the crook of your elbow, not your hands, and disposing of used tissues in the bin, then wash your hands or use a hand sanitiser. You can find more advice by clicking here.
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