Hospitals are reinstating COVID-19 era restrictions as fears of a new, growing influenza epidemic emerged overseas.
It’s been almost six years since the world first got wind of the COVID-19 outbreak that seemed to originate from Wuhan, China. However, it appears that the world might be on the brink of another influenza outbreak, following Japan’s decision to intensify its anti-flu measures.
The news comes as doctors in the United Kingdom warn that the worst flu season seen in decades is upon us. There are calls for people to get vaccinated.
It’s also been reported that Japan’s Osaka University Hospital has also reinstated mandatory masking for all patients and staff as influenza cases in the country rise, the official medical website shared.
The X account that keeps tabs on global outbreaks shared: “Japan’s Osaka University Hospital Reinstates Mandatory Masking for All Patients and Staff Starting November 25 amid growing influenza epidemic.
As per Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan’s flu cases have hit the warning levels at the quickest pace in the last decade. The news comes after 145,526 flu patients were admitted across 3000 hospitals in the second week of November. This averages to nearly 37.73 people per medical facility, which means it surpassed the warning level of 30.