Parents have been told to keep their children off school if they are unwell and have a fever following an increase in illnesses like flu. Public Health Wales (PHW) experts have issued the warning ahead of pupils going back to the classroom next week.
Flu and Covid-19 are currently circulating at high levels, and an increase in cases of scarlet fever is also being reported by PHW. The NHS trust advises that children with a high temperature should stay at home until they feel better and the fever is over.
Dr Graham Brown, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales said: "It is also important to remind children about the importance of washing their hands to avoid germs spreading and to catch coughs and sneezes in tissues. Adults should also try to stay home when unwell. If they have to go out when unwell, it is a good idea to wear a face covering to protect others."
Read more: Nearly a third of people with long Covid have had symptoms for two years, figures suggest
Public Health Wales said the best way to protect against catching flu this winter is for those eligible to get the flu vaccine. Children can have a free flu nasal spray which is safe and effective. For more information on vaccination, please visit here. It is available for:
- All children in primary school
- All children in secondary school years 7 to 11
- All children who are aged two or three on 31 August 2022
- Children aged six months or over and who have any of the long-term health conditions that puts them at increased risk from flu.
According to Public Health Wales data, our current flu season is the most prevalent since the winter of 2019-20. In the week ending December 25, there were 1,877 cases of influenza diagnosed by family doctors in Wales - 369 of them needing hospitalisation - during week 51, up from 236 cases the week before.
Meanwhile recent Welsh Government figures also revealed that the number of people being treated specifically for Covid-19 in Welsh hospitals is the highest it has been since mid-July. On Tuesday, December 20, of the 538 patients in hospital with "confirmed" Covid, 72 of them were being actively treated for the virus - the most since July 22 (77 patients). Hundreds of people a week are also catching Covid while in hospital - you can read more about that here.
Read Next:
- Teenager spends four days in coma after suffering massive brain bleed
Nurses plan to strike again in 2023 due to 'lack of engagement' from Welsh Government
Little boy with 'blue tinge' had heart 'plugged in the wrong way round'
Mum who struggled to climb stairs says people don't recognise her after huge 12 stone weight loss
'I went for my first smear test age 24 and this is why it’s vital others get theirs'
