Concurrent Waves of Flu and COVID in the NHS?

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Flu and COVID often impose a burden on the same part of the service. Having concurrent infections could produce very difficult conditions in already stretched service. I really do feel for my colleagues who are very much on the clinical front line still. It is so difficult to maintain a good service to our patients, which is what we all went into working for the health service for. To be finding ourselves unable to really meet reasonable standards is a very disappointing situation.

As the UK heads into autumn, Covid-19 appears to be surging again. According to official data, 40,650 people tested positive in England in the seven days up to and including 24 September. This was an increase of 42% on the week before. But as we brace for another wave, experts are also concerned about a potential rise in influenza. Ian Sample speaks to Prof Peter Openshaw about the Omicron variant, why we’re at risk of a ‘twindemic’ this year and whether it’s time we all start taking more preventive measures. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod