MASKS and social distancing will not be brought back in to ease pressure on the NHS, the Government has insisted.
Cases of both flu and Covid-19 have been climbing in recent weeks, putting additional strain on the NHS.
But sources inside the government have claimed that there are no plans to bring in tough restrictions.
At the height of the Covid pandemic, Brits were urged to work from home in order to protect the NHS and stop the infection spreading.
Schools were closed and social distancing measures were introduced - impacting businesses up and down the country.
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Fears had been raised this week that Covid-style measures could be re-introduced to save the NHS.
However a Government spokesperson this morning said: “It is inaccurate to say we are considering implementing any such measures."
It comes as infections continue to dominate hospitals across the UK, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing fresh guidance on mask wearing.
Chief Medical Adviser Susan Hopkins told sick Brits to “try to stay home when unwell” and “wear a face covering” if you must go out.
Downing Street stressed mask-wearing was not compulsory and people should use “their judgement”.
A government spokesperson added: "We are working hard with the NHS to tackle the pressures faced this winter.
"We are working tirelessly to ensure people get the care they need, backed by up to £14.1 billion additional funding for health and social care over the next two years.
"This winter, the government has provided an extra £500 million to speed up hospital discharge and free up beds – and the NHS is creating the equivalent of at least 7,000 more beds to help reduce A&E waits and get ambulances back on the road."
Dr Tom Jefferson, of the University of Oxford and co-author of the Trust the Evidence blog said it's 'nothing new' that you should be staying at home if you feel unwell.
He said that masks were a 'quick fix' to a larger problem that is currently damaging the health service.
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"A quick fix has to be visible, vaccines aren't visible, you can't tell if someone has been jabbed but you can see when someone is wearing a mask," he added.
Dr Julian W Tang, Clinical Virologist/Honorary Associate Professor, Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester said masks are likely to reduce some transmission of all respiratory viruses to some extent.
The expert added that wearing masks depends on how much people want to protect themselves.
"At some point, when cases get too high, then masking may become mandatory again - but the definition of ‘too high’ will differ widely depending on who you ask - an elderly vulnerable patient, or the family of a child with cystic fibrosis, will have a much lower threshold for this than, say, an otherwise healthy restaurant or bar owner, for example."
Latest NHS figures show there are 9,459 hospital patients with Covid and 4,128 with flu.
The total of 13,587 is 13 per cent of all available ward beds — one in every eight.
WINTER CRISIS
Hospitals are so busy that even cardiac arrest patients are struggling to get ambulances and A&E patients are waiting up to four days for help.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “The NHS is experiencing one of its busiest winters ever with record demand on emergency services and a resurgence in respiratory illnesses."
Both figures are expected to rise in the coming days and hospitals are already 94 per cent full.
Speaking to The Sun, one GP said mask wearing can be beneficial, helping you to protect those around you from any bugs or illnesses you might have.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patientaccess.com said if you're constantly sneezing or coughing then wearing a mask could reduce the risk.
"I don’t think we will go back to complying with face coverings - it’s about relying on people’s good will and sense of responsibility.
"Anti-mask wearers are all saying they are fine and that we have to learn to live with things, but we have never been in this position with the NHS before and at the moment, A&E is like a warzone," the GP said.
The Prime Minister this afternoon said that something has to change with the NHS, adding that this would not mean structural reforms.
"We will always protect the founding principles of an NHS free at the point of use. But what it does mean is an NHS where patients are in control with as much choice as possible, where we’re comfortable with the NHS using more independent capacity, if that’s what it takes to get patients quicker and better care," he said.
Dr Sarah added that pressures from a possible new variant could see infections rising.
On Wednesday morning Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick said we need to be 'keeping an eye' on Covid cases in the UK amid a the XBB1.5 variant that is currently prominent in the US.
He said: "It’s significant because it’s spreading so rapidly, we are seeing a whole slew at the moment of different Omicron variants, indeed that’s what’s causing the spread of Covid in this country.
"This particular variant is unusual in that it’s spreading so rapidly - and in fact towards the end of December the number of cases with this particular variant in the US more than doubled in a week and that’s why we’re very concerned," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He added that the best thing to do is get out and get boosters.
"It's a bit of a wake up call, but jabs should protect people from developing severe disease," he added.
The Sun is urging Brits to "Do the Double", and come forward for flu and Covid jabs.
NHS bosses and ministers again backed our campaign while medics warned they face their “worst ever” crisis.
The Sun has been urging Brits to protect against both viruses with a good degree of success.
However, nine million people are still due a Covid booster and 13 million have not taken up their free flu shot — meaning a total of 22million jabs on standby.
