Hospitals in south Wales are introducing new measures to tackle an increase in flu cases. Patients and visitors at medical centres run by the Cardiff and Vale, Hywel Dda, Anuerin Bevan and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards are being told to wear masks to control the spread of the infection. Public Health Wales figures from Christmas Eve showed the rate of consultation with GPs about influenza across the country was 33.1 per 100,000 of the population in Week 51 of 2024, compared with 21.4 in the previous seven days.
All health boards have urged people with symptoms not to visit hospitals unless absolutely necessary, saying flu cases were expected to reach their peak by the end of the following week. The Cardiff and Vale board said masks were required in all waiting, assessment and emergency areas, and in all clinical spaces by personnel. Hywel Dda said restrictions on the number of visitors to its acute medical assessment unit at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli were being increased so that access can be obtained only via the ward sister.
A Cwm Taf Morgannwg statement said: “From today (Friday), until further notice, you’ll be asked to wear a mask when you arrive to help prevent the spread of flu.” Meanwhile, the Anuerin Bevan board introduced a mask-wearing requirement immediately. It expressed the hope that the measure would protect particularly vulnerable patients and cut transmission risks.
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