City hospital urges wearing masks during flu outbreak

Visitors to Bradford Royal Infirmary are being advised to wear face masks due to a significant increase in flu cases within the hospital. Officials report that both locally and nationally, the NHS is experiencing an early surge in influenza and other respiratory illnesses, leading to numerous admissions of patients with severe symptoms.

"To ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors, we have implemented a policy requiring face masks in high-risk clinical areas," stated a representative from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital confirmed that staff members will also wear masks, and that face coverings will be provided for visitors in wards and clinical areas. Guests are also being reminded of the benefits of receiving the flu vaccine and are encouraged to maintain proper hand hygiene.

Recent NHS statistics indicate that, on average, 1,717 patients were hospitalized daily across the country last week due to influenza. Hospital administrators caution that the number of cases has not yet peaked, even after 17 million flu vaccinations have been administered.

Author: Riley Thompson